Is Russia's power grid crumbling?
As much as 80 percent of the hydroelectric power plants and more than 60 percent of the thermal energy facilities are in need of maintenance, Russia's Gazeta.ru reports.
In August, two water ducts collapsed at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power station in Siberia, flooding a turbine hall. A fuel tank also ruptured, sending oil into the Yenisei River. Three hydroelectric units were destroyed and seven others were damaged.
Auditors at KPMG said Russia needed at least $500 billion to repair the electric grid, though independent analysts said that sum is not enough.
Yekaterina Tripoten, an analyst at independent financial consulting company Sovlink, said it was unlikely private investments could raise the funds needed to repair and modernize Russia's dilapidated electricity infrastructure.
Related News

Former B.C. Hydro CEO earns half a million without working a single day
VANCOUVER - Former B.C. Hydro president and chief executive officer Jessica McDonald received a total of $541,615 in compensation during the 2017-2018 fiscal year without having worked a single day for the Crown corporation.
She earned this money under a compensation package after the in-coming New Democratic government of John Horgan fired her. The previous B.C. Liberal government named her president and CEO of B.C. Hydro in 2014, and McDonald was a strong supporter of the controversial Site C dam project now going ahead following a review.
The current New Democratic government placed her on what financial disclosure documents call “salary continuance”…