The first electricity at the Vitebsk HPP is planned to be generated in 2016

Electricity generation at the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station will begin this year, as reported by Ivan Pugachev, Head of the Construction Department of the Vitebsk HPP of RUE Vitebskenergo.

 

"Approximately 95% of the concrete work for the construction of the hydro-node and spillway dam has been completed. This work will be finished by the end of May," stated Ivan Pugachev, recalling that the first cubic meter of concrete was poured in the summer of 2014. Now, after the winter lull, there is noticeable activity at the construction site, with work proceeding around the clock. The construction of the lock, through which vessels can be passed (the width of the lock chamber is 13.5 m), is underway. Equipment installation has begun – 3 gates have been installed on the dam.

 

"The gates are designed to discharge excess water during floods," explained the Head of the Department. "For electricity generation, water from the Western Dvina will pass through the generators and turn the blades. During floods, by raising the dam gates, excess water can be discharged downstream." At the end of April, the installation of a bridge crane will begin, which will be used to install the generators. The peak of the main equipment installation will occur in May-June, and finishing work will also begin in May. Work is not only being carried out

directly at the construction site - 80% of the bank protection measures in the reservoir bed (upstream of the river) up to the village of Surazh have been completed.

"The earth dam is reinforced with special gabion mattresses, which are metal mesh cases filled with crushed stone. These gabions are attached to the banks to protect them from erosion," explained Ivan Pugachev.

According to specialists' calculations, the water level in the Western Dvina River will rise by 12 m before the dam, and in the Surazh area, the water level will rise by 1.5-2 m. "As a result of filling the reservoir, there will be good recreation areas here - artificial reservoirs from 2.5 to 3 m deep with sandy beaches, which will be connected to the Western Dvina River. In the future, it will be possible to organize recreation centers," said Ivan Pugachev. The contract for the construction of the power plant was concluded with the Chinese national corporation for electrical equipment CNEEC. The cost of the facility is about $189 million. The construction is financed by loans from the Chinese Development Bank. At the same time, according to the contract, Belarusian enterprises must be involved in the construction for 30% of its cost, and Belarusian building materials must be used. Upon full commissioning of the facility, electricity generation should amount to 138 million kWh per year (for comparison, the Vitebsk region consumes 105 million kWh per year).

Alena Tikhonova – BELTA.