A Chechen rebel group of at least 50 fighters attempted to attack the 12 megawatt TETs-4 steam power plant in Argun overnight on 7 April, but Volga district of the Interior Ministry troops guarding the installation fought them off. Three servicemen were wounded in the engagement, while the rebels lost over 20 KIA, with two fighters wounded and captured. Successfully cutting electricity to Federal military positions would not only hamper Russian operations, but also further demoralize the civilian population.
Mid-December 2001 fighting in Argun resulted in power shortages at Khankala and Grozny. Nurdin Usamov, the head of Chechnya's power company, said the disruption was caused by Russian troops who damaged plant equipment while trying to drive a rebel group from the town. Operations at TETs-4 weren't fully restored until 23 January 2002.
In addition to providing power to the Russian military base at Khankala and the capital, Grozny, Chechnya`s largest thermo-electric also provided electricity to a sugar plant and a construction materials plant. A shoe factory and clothes factory were going to be added to the grid in January 2002. There were also plans for a chain of dry-cleaners and an ice-cream factory. Unified Energy Systems of Russia had given 1.4 billion rubles ( $448,717,000) to restore the thermal power station. - Adam Geibel
