Bulgaria's HPP Chaira extends deadline for emergency repair of engine–generator

Bulgarian pumped-storage hydro power plant (HPP) Chaira has extended the deadline for completing emergency repairs of an engine-generator unit to September 30, following its breakdown on March 30, the Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX) said.

The emergency repairs were initially scheduled to be completed on April 5.

HPP Chaira will be left with unavailable capacity of 216 MW in generating mode and 198 MW in pumping mode during the repairs, IBEX said in a notice on Friday..

HPP Chaira, which is the biggest of its kind in Southeast Europe according to Bulgarian energy utility NEK, has four reversible pump-turbines with a total installed capacity of 864 MW in generating mode and 792 MW in pumping mode.

State-owned NEK started the scheduled rehabilitation of HPP Chaira on February 1. Planned repairs are scheduled to be completed at the end of 2019.

The pump-storage plant is part of the Belmeken – Sestrimo – Chaira hydro power complex in the Rila mountain. NEK is also currently carrying out planned repairs at Belmeken and Sestrimo.

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