Russian dam owner cuts repair estimate to 3 years

MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Reuters) - The Russian hydroelectric power station crippled in an accident last week will take three years to repair and not four years as initially estimated, its owner said on Sunday, quoted by local news agencies. A surge of water destroyed the turbine room at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric dam on Monday, killing 69 workers and leaving six more missing, the Emergencies Ministry said on Sunday. "I think all of the work will be completed at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro power station in three years," Vasily Zubakin, the chairman of state-controlled hydro-power company RusHydro (HYDR.MM: Quote, Profile, Research), was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency. The power station will begin to produce electricity again before the repairs are completed, Zubakin said, quoted by Interfax news agency. The chief executive of aluminium producer RUSAL, one of the station's main customers, said on Wednesday that repairs on the dam could take between four and five years. Zubakin said assurances by engineering firm Power Machines (SILM.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) about the time needed to replace damaged equipment had convinced him the station would be completed quicker than initially expected. (Reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Rupert Winchester)