OREANDA-NEWS. August 13, 2012. Representatives of Piedra del Aguila HPP (Argentina) and JSC Power Machines visited Lesogorskaya and Svetogorskaya HPPs of the Vuoksa HPP Cascade of JSC TGC-1.

During the visit the specialists were told about the history of the power plant and its reconstruction project that has been implemented by JSC TGC-1 since 2008. Vasily Pustohod, Director of the Vuoksa Cascade, conducted the excursion for the foreign specialists and spoke in detail about the technical outfitting of the power station and modernization of the equipment. He noted: “The reconstruction project stipulates replacement of all 8 hydroelectric units by the general contractor JSC Power Machines. The last unit will start operation in 2013. It’s noteworthy that the reconstruction is being implemented without massive rearrangements of hydroelectric structures. This kind of work often demands unique project and technological decisions. Exchanging experience with foreign colleagues is invaluable in such cases.”

In turn, Louis Andereoli, Technical Director of Piedra del Aguila HPP, also noted the necessity and importance of such meetings: “They give us the opportunity to not only discuss issues with expert hydro engineers and equipment manufacturers, but also see with our own eyes how reconstruction projects of hydroelectric generating facilities are implemented in Russia. It was very interesting to see the experience of Power Machines in modernizing hydroelectric units.”

JSC TGC-1 Vuoksa HPPs Cascade is a fundamental energy source of the Karelian Isthmus. It combines two HPPs — Svetogorskaya and Lesogorskaya, and generates electricity for transfer to the general electrical system of the region and covers the peaks of the daily load curve of the electric system. The cascade also exports power to Finland.

The comprehensive reconstruction of hydroelectric power plants of the Vuoksa HPPs Cascade started in 2007. It is one of the priority projects of the JSC TGC-1 investment program, which includes construction and reconstruction of generating units of the company in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast with a total power capacity of 1650 MW (under contracts to provide electricity).

Power Machines is a leading Russian manufacturer and supplier of comprehensive solutions in the field of power machine building, including engineering, production, supply, installation, maintenance and modernization of equipment for thermal, nuclear, hydro and gas turbine power plants. Power Machines was established in 2000, it combines technological, industrial and intellectual resources of world famous Russian enterprises Leningrad Metal Plant (1857), Electrosila (1898), Turbine Blades Plant (1964), Kaluga Turbine Works (1946), JSC EMAliance (2005), JSC TKZ Krasny Kotelschik (1896) and LLC Power machines Reostat Factory (1960). Equipment manufactured by Power Machines enterprises is installed in 57 countries.

Piedra del Aguila HPP is located in Argentina on the Limay River in the Neuquen Province. The total installed capacity of the plant is 1400 MW (4 units with a capacity of 350 MW each). The plant was put into operation in 1993-1994. The HPP runs four hydroelectric units that were manufactured by Electrosila factory (JSC Power Machines) in 1989.