4^thAnnual International Summit and Exhibition
Hydropower Balkans

KESH sh.a., the Albanian National Power Corporation, in its intention to increase its generation capacities through utilizing renewable resources available, is resuming work on the project for Skavica HPP Development on the Drin River Cascade. Conceptualization of the project began in the 1990’s and is being continued through close cooperation between our corporation, international institutions and international experts, with the aim of utilizing the full energy potential of the Drin and Zi river. Funded by the WBIF, a grant of 1,5 million euro was approved to support the preparation of a feasibility study for the projects. A team of International and National experts has started to work on January 2019 and the final report is due in Autumn 2020. The first phase consists of drafting a pre-feasibility study in which the consultant group will analyse three different alternatives with one or two dams solution as well different heights and different installed capacities (up to 200 MW) alternatives. A decision on the best option to be followed is expected by September – October 2019, the consultant will also propose different alternatives for financing the construction of the HPP.

National Electricity Company (NEK)

According to EBRD, Bulgaria’s National Electricity Company, in March 2019 has launched a tender for rehabilitation of Vacha-1 HPP 110 kV switchyard and other HPP systems of integrated control. NEK will partially finance the contract with funds from the EBRD -managed Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund (KIDSF). The scope of the contract includes design, manufacture, delivery, installation, designer super vision, adjustment, testing and commissioning of the Facilities: new 110 kV high voltage equipment: disconnectors, measuring transformers, circuit breakers for Vacha -1 HPP switchyard; integrated control system, excitation systems, turbine governors, relay protections, new hydro unit, electric meters.

State-owned power utility ElektroprivredaSrbije (EPS)

At the end of 2017, EPS announced its intention to overhaul 10 units of HPP Đerdap 2 over 10 years, to help ex tend the plant ’s lifespan and boost its c apacity by 50 MW . EPS and Siloviye Mashiny are cooperating on the overhaul of HPP Đerdap 1. The overhaul began in 2009. In Jul y 2018, the two companies signed a contract on the modernization of the A2 and A3 units in order to complete the revitalization of the entire HPP in 2021.

Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG)

In the beginning of 2018, EPCG signed an agreement worth over EUR 1.6 million with a group of bidders fr om Serbia – Jaroslav Černi and Energoprojekt Hidroinženjering – to produce a preliminary design plan for HPP Komarnica. The proposed installed capacity of HPP Komarnica is 168 MW and the estimated annual electricity production 231.8 G Wh.

August 2019, The value of investment in the construction of the Komarnica hydropower plant (HP P) in Montenegro is estimated at EUR 237.9 million. According to the document, the estimated value of construction works is EUR 189.4 million, hydro-mechanical equipment EUR 16.9 million, and electric al and electromechanical equipment EUR 31.5 million. HPP Komarnica will use the hydropower of the Komarnica river, between the HPP Piva reservoir and the area of the village of Šavnik, to the Nevidio canyon, which will not be endangered, the document underlines.

The Republika Srpska Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining

Republika Srpska Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining and Rakurs-Engineering signed in Banja Luka a cooperation agreement in September 2018 on the EUR 500 million project for the construction of 4 cascading hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) on the Vrbas river. HPP Trn’s installed capacity would be 24.01 MW , with an average annual output of 139.90 G Wh. HPP Laktaši’s installed capacity would be 16.18 MW , with an average annual production of 95.2 G Wh. The planned installed capacity of HPP Kosjerevo would be 13.3 MW, with an average annual output 102 GWh. HE Ra zboj’s installed capacity would be 16.50 MW , with an average annual production 102.1 G Wh.

Hidroelectrica

May 2019 Romania’s state-owned hydropower producer Hidroelectrica, has launched an international tender for the modernization of the 220 MW Vidraru hydropower plant and dam on the river Argeș in the southern central county of Argeș, which is located in the region of Muntenia. Bids are due by June for a turnkey contract for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of mechanical, hydro-mechanical, and electrical equipment for the plant, dam and pressure node as well as integration of already modernized installations (220-kV substation, SCADA and 125 kVA generator group at the Vidraru dam) as well as dismantling of the existing equipment and personnel training. The project aims to extend the HPP’s life by at least 30 years and to increase the active power of each hydro-aggregate from 55 MW to 58.8 MW at least, while ensuring better reliability, lowering the maintenance needs and increasing safety in operation.