Bulgaria's NEK completes 10 mln euro Belmeken HPP overhaul

The project involved the design, manufacture, supply, installation and testing of hydraulic cylinders, along with turbine equipment such as new regulators, nozzles and deflectors, the government said in a press release on Tuesday. Additionally, it involved the implementation of new excitation systems, generator circuit breakers and control and monitoring systems for the entire facility.

The power utility has also begun the overhaul of Chaira HPP's hydro unit 2, slated for completion by the end of the year. The total repair costs for the entire power plant, including its three other turbines, are expected to amount to 80 million levs ($44.1 million/40.9 million euro), the government said.

The Belmeken plant is part of the Belmeken-Sestrimo-Momina Klisura hydropower complex. The HPP has a total installed capacity of 375 MW in generating mode and produces an average of 294 GWh of electricity annually.

NEK started rehabilitation works at the complex in 2019 under a 20 million euro contract with a consortium comprising Czech company CKD Blansko, Croatia's Koncar-KET and Slovenia's Rudis.

The contract is part of a broader project for the rehabilitation of the Belmeken-Sestrimo-Chaira hydropower complex, Vacha-1 HPP 110 kV switchyard and other HPP systems of integrated control. The project's overall budget is 37 million euro, with 70% sourced from the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund, administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the remaining 30% financed by NEK.

($ = 0.9265 euro)