OREANDA-NEWS. January 13, 2011. Power Machines has successfully modernized and commissioned the first of three power units of Bitola, Macedonian TPP.

Macedonian company ELEM (JSC Macedonian Power Plants) has signed the contract for manufacture and delivery of power equipment required for modernization of three 225 MW TPP power units. The contract price amounts to € 56 mln.

Pursuant to the contract, Power Machines is to manufacture and deliver the equipment required for modernization of three steam turbines and three turbogenerators. Furthermore, the scope of contract obligations of St. Petersburg power engineering company includes installation supervision and start-up operations. Modernization shall result in safe and reliable operation of power units, extend their service life and increase their power by 8.32 MW each.

Branches of Power Machines are currently manufacturing the power equipment required for the second TPP power unit which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2011. The third power unit will be put into operation a year after.

In 1978–1984, turbines and generators for Bitola TPP were also manufactured by Power Machines’ branches – Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod and Electrosila. Years of faultless service of this power equipment have contributed to the trust put in the equipment made by Russian company and gave rise to a great concern of Macedonian counterparty to involve the original equipment manufacturer in TPP modernization process.     In 1994 Power Machines partly modernized three power units, which increased their nominal power from 210 to 225 MW each.