Fire at Russian Far East power plant cuts heating to nearby towns

A fire broke out on September 22 at the Neryungri Power Plant in Yakutia, damaging a transformer substation belonging to power unit No. 1 and a turbine inside the machine room. One person was injured from smoke inhalation. The plant is currently not operating.

Yakutia's regional government said the fire and subsequent shutdown have not disrupted electricity supply, as the region is now receiving power through transfers from the unified national energy system.

Heat supply is the priority

Nikolai Bochkov, acting first deputy chairman of the Yakutia government, said restoring stable heat supply from the plant as quickly as possible is the main priority. He noted that apartment temperatures currently remain at an acceptable level, though a slight decrease has been observed.

Authorities are planning to set up an additional heat generation scheme, and school schedules will be adjusted if necessary. Bochkov added that a large volume of repair work will be required at the plant following the fire.

About the plant and weather conditions

The Neryungri Power Plant, located in the settlement of Serebryany Bor, is the largest power facility in southern Yakutia, supplying electricity and heat to Neryungri, Serebryany Bor, and nearby industrial sites.

In Neryungri on September 23, daytime temperatures are holding around 9 degrees Celsius, with an overnight low of about -1 degrees Celsius expected.