Lukomlskaya GRES reduced electricity generation by 30.4% to 4.7 billion kWh in the first half of the year

July 23, Minsk / Milena Anufrienok - BELTA /. Lukomlskaya GRES (Vitebsk region) generated 4.69 billion kWh of electricity in January-June 2009, which is 69.6% of the level of the same period last year, the station informed a BELTA correspondent. The volume of generated energy corresponds to the set dispatch schedule. According to the results of the first half of the year, the Belarusian energy system as a whole generated less electricity than in the same period last year. This is due to a slight decrease in electricity consumption in the republic, as well as an increase in electricity imports compared to 2008. The capacity utilization of the largest Belarusian power plant in January-June this year averaged 218.1 MW per unit (compared to 247 MW in the same period of 2008) with a nominal capacity of one power unit of 300 MW. Currently, seven out of eight units of the station are in operation, one is in reserve. Modernization has been completed on power unit No. 4, which involved increasing its capacity by 15 MW and improving the efficiency of electricity generation. In mid-June, the modernized unit was put into operation, and its performance is currently being assessed. In 2006-2008, turbines on power units No. 1 and No. 2 were similarly upgraded at the station. In accordance with the contract, the supplier of the main equipment for the modernization of the first, second, and fourth power units of the station was the Russian company OAO "Silovye Mashiny". The specific fuel consumption for electricity generation at Lukomlskaya GRES in the first half of 2009 was 314.8 g per 1 kWh. Over six months, more than 6 thousand tons of conventional fuel were saved at the station. The installed capacity of Lukomlskaya GRES exceeds 2.4 thousand MW. The first power unit of the station was commissioned in 1969, and the last, the eighth, in 1974. In summer (the period of highest load of Lukomlskaya GRES capacities), it produces about 60% of the electricity generated in the republic. In 2008, the station generated 13.867 billion kWh, which is 3.7% higher than the level of 2007. -0-