Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept. 21 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
The first stage of the Khrami-2 Hydro-Power Plant (HPP) Reconstruction Program ended this week. The renewed HPP officially opened on Sept. 20, the Georgian Energy Ministry reported.
Capital repairs have been conducted on the HPP. Two units are operating for the first time in a combined regime since 1998. Italian modernized turbines have been installed. Spherical valves of HPP-derivation pipeline have also been equipped with modern air-oil pressure equipment. As a result, the exploitation of turbine generators has been completely secured. The HPP's operation is fully computerized via Siamens modern electrical equipment systems. A new control board has significantly increased the HPP operational quality.
Electricity indicators were also improved after the repairs. The HPP's two turbines generators with an installed design capacity of 110 Mgwt/h increased to 120 Mgwt/h. Subsequently, the HPP's total annual generation will reach 370 million KWh.
The Khrami-1 and Khrami-2 HPPs have a total electricity generation of 650 million KWh, one-third of which is consumed annually by Tbilisi.
The rehabilitation program started in 1996. The Japanese government allocated 50 million lari to implement the project. Khrami-2 began redeveloping the program after temporary ownership was passed over to the Inter RAO UES HPP in 2006. The government allocated an additional 10.8 million lari for the program. Due to the repairs, one of the HPP's turbine-generator has worked with a full load since 2008. Inter RAO UES allocated an additional 5 million lari in investments to rehabilitate a second generator, the ministry reported.
The second stage of the program will start next year as part of a five-year investment program that consists of two stages - the rehabilitation of 220/110 kv. open a distributing substation and conducting capital repairs of the HPP's exterior and interior.
Khrami-2 is located in Dmanisi and has operated since 1956.
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