NOVO-OGAREVO — Workers in Sochi are still building the city's new power grid less than a month before the Winter Olympics get under way, the energy minister has said.
Generators and other facilities are in place but the grid, with a web of 900 kilometers of power cable and 500 substations, is unlikely to come online until Jan. 25, just 13 days before the opening ceremony.
"We're planning to finish all the work by Jan. 20 and to get permission to put the grid to use by Jan. 25," Alexander Novak said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Of 49 major energy projects for the Sochi Olympics, the grid is "the only facility that's still being worked on," Novak added.
Construction of facilities for the Sochi Olympics has been largely smooth, avoiding the last-minute rush that brought notoriety to some Olympic Games of the past, such as Athens 2004.
The Games run from Feb. 7 through 23.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
