Small hydropower plants, Podgor and Rijeka Crnojevića, after complete reconstruction, have been re-connected to the electric power system of Montenegro, announced the Elektroprivreda (EPCG).
The reconstruction, worth about 1,6 million euros, included the complete replacement of hydromechanical and electrical equipment, installation of strong and weak current, arrangement of the interior and exterior of the machine building, and rehabilitation of the supply organs with a system for remote control and monitoring from HPP Perućica, in which they operate.
The company announced that equipment from well-known European manufacturers was installed: a two-chamber Gros-flow turbine CINK from the Czech Republic, a self-exciting generator Mareli from Italy, a transformer Makitel Dooel from North Macedonia and a medium voltage plant Schneider electric from France.
"MHE Podgor and MHE Rijeka Crnojevića are the oldest production facilities owned by our company. The first kilowatt hours were delivered to the Montenegrin power system back in 1941. From 2015 until the reconstruction, they were not in operation", the announcement states.
The re-commissioning of these two energy facilities, which will supply the system with about 3,5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of green energy per year, was made official by EPCG Executive Director Ivan Bulatović, who stated that the reconstruction of these facilities testifies to Elektroprivreda's responsible attitude towards to its cultural and historical heritage.
"The most important thing is to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of EPCG, and I think we are doing it in the right way and that we will continue with this trend of renovating our facilities, while simultaneously investing in new production facilities and greater power," said Bulatović.
The level of reconstruction and adaptation is such that the power plants are capable of working without a crew, with a remote control and monitoring system from HPP Perućica.
The manager of the HPP Perućica Branch, Radovan Đukanović, said that the procedure for their adaptation and reconstruction began in 2017, then, at the end of 2018, the preparation of the Concept Project was started, which was completed in April 2020.
"After that, a public invitation was issued for the preparation and revision of the Main Project and the procurement and installation of equipment, for which, at the beginning of last year, a contract was concluded with the company Vigoris from Podgorica", said Đukanović.
The installed power of MHP Podgor is 360 kilowatts (kW), and the planned production is 1,8 GWh, while the installed power of MHP Rijeka Crnojevića is 451 kW, and the planned production is 1,7 GWh of clean green energy.
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