Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov visited hydropower plant “Freudenau” in Vienna in the context of his working visit to Austria.

It is one of the largest hydropower plants in the country and the first large hydropower station in the world built within the precincts of the city.

Hydropower plant “Freudenau” located on Danube was launched in 1998. It belongs to “Andritz Hydro” company. The plant produces 1000 GWh of electric power a year. The outstanding feature of this hydropower plant is that its power depends on the water level in Danube.

Besides energy generation the station implements important functions in the sphere of urban planning and ecology. In particular, it serves for improvement of navigation conditions on Danube and normalization of groundwater level.

Tatarstan President visited a turbine hall where he saw a unique Kaplan turbine in action. Rustam Minnikhanov asked officials of the company if they search for any alternative energy sources. He was also interested in the cost of produced energy.

Tatarstan President also laid flowers to the Soviet War Memorial in Vienna.