MOSCOW, September 1 - RAPSI, Alyona Yegorova. The Federal Moscow District Commercial Court has remanded a Rusal-Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter lawsuit against RusHydro for 25.46 million rubles ($882,061) over a major accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant (HPP), the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI) reports from the courtroom.

With the decision, the court overturned a Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals judgment in favor of Rusal-Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter issued in May. The case was remanded for reconsideration at the appellate court level.

The accident at RusHydros Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP took place on August 17, 2009. Water flooded the generator hall, destroying three hydroelectric generators, and damaging all the others. The accident forced a shutdown of the entire plant.

As a result of the shutdown, the Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter and Khakas Aluminium Smelter also suffered a complete outage. The Rusal-Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter suffered damages amounting to 25 million rubles.

Rusal is one of the leading aluminium producers worldwide. It accounts for roughly 10% of the worlds aluminium production and 10% of the worlds alumina production.

RusHydro is the largest Russian generating company comprising 60 facilities of renewable energy including Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP where currently repairing work is being conducted.