After Russian spaceport firm fails to pay bills, electric company turns the lights off

The Vostochny spaceport, a cornerstone of Russia's ambitious space program, has been plagued by challenges since its inception over a decade ago. Aimed at modernizing launch operations and enabling the country to launch rockets from its own territory, the project has faced numerous setbacks, including allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Construction of the spaceport began in 2011 and has been marred by a series of controversies, including hunger strikes and reports of unpaid laborers. Notably, a scandal involving the embezzlement of $126 million and the arrest of a man driving a diamond-encrusted Mercedes for stealing $75,000 further tarnished the initiative's reputation. Despite these issues, some progress has been made, with successful launches from the facility's two operational pads in recent years. Currently, the main contractor, Kazan Open Stock Company (PSO Kazan), is facing severe financial scrutiny. The Far Eastern Energy Company recently cut off electricity to parts of the spaceport under construction due to PSO Kazan's failure to settle $627,000 in outstanding energy bills. The energy provider stated that this action was necessary to safeguard the region’s energy system. In addition to halting power supplies, the energy company plans to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against PSO Kazan. They have expressed frustration over the contractor's lack of response to repeated demands for payment. The situation could escalate further if the debt remains unpaid. Despite these financial troubles, officials at Vostochny have reassured that the two active launch pads are not impacted by the ongoing dispute. Moreover, they claim that PSO Kazan is committed to resolving its debts by the end of November, though skepticism is warranted given the project's troubled history.