Director of Dubasari HPP Boris German
According to information from Tiraspol, the increase in electricity prices is due to a reduction in the volume of natural gas supplies to the Transnistrian region. This led to a decrease in electricity generation at the Cuciurgan TPP and an increase in costs for its production.
There are two main sources of electricity on the left bank of the Nistru River: the Cuchurgan GRES and the Dubasari HPP. As the energy crisis continued, attention to the Dubasari HPP increased dramatically.
The purpose of this hydropower plant in the status of a state unitary enterprise is energy, irrigation, fisheries and water supply. The dam and the plant itself were built in 1950-1954, resulting in the formation of the Dubasari reservoir.
The nominal capacity of the Dubasari HPP is 48 MW (four turbines of 12 MW each). However, only a part of the possible capacity is used. Back in December last year, the hydropower plant switched to a minimum water release to replenish the reserve in the reservoir. This was necessary to overcome the possible consequences of an emergency situation. Now the filling is almost at its maximum, the inflow is equal to the outflow and the water level has not changed for several months.
Due to the energy crisis in the region, since January this year Dubasari HPP has increased its working load to 24 MW (before the new year it was 8 MW). For comparison, the Kuchurgan TPP is now operating at 105 MW.
As the director of Dubasari HPP Boris German stated, two power units are permanently involved. The work goes according to the schedule set by the central control room of “Dniesterenergo”. When the third power unit is launched, the plant’s capacity is maintained at 27 MW, but if necessary, it can be increased to 34-36 MW. If necessary, all four power units at Dubasari HPP can be switched on.
