Photo from UNIAN
Construction of the second stage of the Dniester Pumped Storage Power Plant (PSPP) began in the town of Novodnistrovsk, Chernivtsi region, on May 26, with the first cubic meter of concrete cast into the station's structures and a symbolic capsule laid to mark the launch of the construction of the plant's hydroelectric unit No. 4 investment in which is estimated at over US$170 million.
State-run Ukrhydroenergo, the operator of hydropower plants (HPP) and pumped storage power plants (PSPP) in Ukraine is to build the fourth hydroelectric unit by investing over UAH 4.5 billion, or US$170.8 million. Of the sum, more than UAH 1.5 billion will be spent on high-tech domestic equipment. In particular, Kharkiv-based Electrotyazhmash Plant will supply a generator engine, while PJSC Turboatom will deliver a turbine pump. Both enterprises have already been paid 50% in advance; the remaining part will be paid in June. The suppliers will have 9,000 jobs due to the project.
The fourth hydroelectric unit is expected to boost Dniester PSPP's capacity by 324 MW in turbine mode and by 421 MW in the pumping mode. Electricity generation will reach 768 million kWh per year.
The solemn ceremony was attended by Ukraine's Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk, Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota, Chairman of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration Oleksandr Fischuk, and representatives of the local government.
Read alsoEnergy sector to be plugged in reform"We've laid a capsule today and started construction of the fourth hydroelectric unit. I think this is a great contribution to the country's power grids," said Nasalyk. "The third hydroelectric unit is already helping us. We have adopted a program for the development of the hydropower sector in Ukraine and a new energy strategy for our state, which provides for a significant increase in renewable energy, namely hydropower facilities. We signed a commitment to use only renewable energy by 2050. It took 28 years to build the first hydroelectric unit, the second one was built for three years, and the third for two years and six months. We hope the fourth unit will be put into operation in 2019."
The economic effect of Dniester PSPP due to the saving of natural gas and coal has already estimated at more than $145 million a year. The figure is expected to triple after the launch of the fourth unit.
At the same time, the minister noted that special attention would be paid to the social aspect, in particular, an increase in salaries for employees and builders. For this purpose, it is planned to revise the social program for 2018.
Read alsoUkraine hires Austria's Andritz Hydro to upgrade Dnipro HPP built in 1932Some 750 workplaces will be created during three years of the construction in Novodnistrovsk, with a larger share of jobs for local residents.
Now the average salary at Dniester PSPP exceeds UAH 9,000, or $342, while the average salary in Chernivtsi region is UAH 5,136, or $195 (UAH 6,752 on the average in Ukraine). The enterprise is also one of the largest taxpayers.
"Last year, we received UAH 29 million in the budget revenue. This allows us to hope that everything will be fine in all aspects. The most important thing is that the estimate has already been approved and the construction is underway, which means new jobs and wages," said Novodnistrovsk mayor Anatoly Boldyshev.
Pumped storage power plants, such as Dniester PSPP allow accumulating energy on an industrial scale, stabilizing the system during peak loads. Thus, PSPPs is a key element of the stability and security of the integrated power grids of Ukraine. The development of such maneuvering capacities in Ukraine is stipulated by the hydropower development program, approved by Ukraine's Cabinet in 2016.
"We cannot use traditional energy for another half-century since sooner or later it will run out. In two or three months, we will make a decision to design three more hydraulic units in order to build them simultaneously. We will build three more units in just four or five years. We have enough experience to make such statements," Ukrhydroenergo CEO Ihor Syrota said.