The Râul Mare Retezat hydroelectric power plant is undergoing a complete refurbishment

The refurbishment of the Râul Mare Retezat Hydroelectric Power Plant is entering a straight line, after yesterday, at the headquarters of Hidroelectrica SA, representatives of the state-owned company signed the works contract assigned to the association between the companies Andritz Hydro GmbH and Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios SA (association leader), together with the subcontractors Las Prom SRL, GD Maşini de Ridicat, Compania de Consultanţa în Energie şi Mediu SA, Electric Total SRL, ARIS Engineering SRL and Electromontaj Carpaţi SA.

The value of the contract amounts to 188.45 million euros, excluding VAT, and the estimated duration for the completion of the works is 60 months, i.e. 5 years.

"The Râul Mare Retezat power plant is one of the emblematic power plants that Hidroelectrica has in its portfolio. It is the second largest power plant on the inland rivers that we have, after Lotru, and it is a power plant that should have operated at a power of 335 megawatts (MW), with two groups. Unfortunately, due to design errors made at the end of the 1980s, when the power plant was put into operation (in 1986), it operates with restrictions. Here we are, in 2026, signing the retrofit contract. This retrofit, in addition to adding a new life cycle to this power plant, will also allow the unlocking of those megawatts that are so necessary for balancing the national energy system. There has been a lot of talk about storage during this period and I believe that the Râul Mare Retezat power plant and the reservoir there will successfully contribute to balancing the system and increasing storage capacity. This is what Hidroelectrica does best: balances the national energy system, covers consumption peaks and contributes to the energy transition towards a greener and more sustainable system”, declared Bogdan Badea, the interim general director of Hidroelectrica, upon signing the works contract.

Daniela Iordănescu, Manager of the Refurbishment Department, provided some details: "Refurbishments are not easy projects. The fact that this project will be completed in five years is a reality, but while we are refurbishing one unit, we are producing energy with the other. So it is not a loss. Through these projects we bring flexibility and safety to the system. At Retezat, we are not only changing the equipment, but we are bringing in new, competitive machines with high yields. In addition to the hydro units and the valves in the pressure node that ensure the safety of the plant, we are also modernizing the power stations. It is a very large project, because we have to fit within the existing dimensions. One is when you start from scratch (Greenfield) and another is a Brownfield project. (...) Retezat is essential; with 335 MW, we are bringing safety to the system. We will recover those 135 MW that had restrictions until now. We will change everything: the turbine, the generator and the important parts of the hydraulic circuit will be redesigned to guarantee superior efficiency and safety. (...) We have a very ambitious plan for the other plants as well; in fact, for all of them. In the coming years, at least 2000 MW are included in our modernization plan, being documented projects for which we have taken important steps. For these, we need the market, contractors, and we are open, transparent and want as many competitors as possible”.

The representatives of the companies that will carry out the modernization works have stated that they want to meet the contractual deadlines and that, in five years, the plant will be completely modernized. The interim general director of Hidroelectrica indicated that, although the contract price is a fixed one, the budget provides for the allocation of additional amounts for the works that could not be foreseen at the time of the conclusion of the contract, as well as penalties in case the contracting companies do not respect the deadlines stipulated in the document signed yesterday.

We note that the Râul Mare Retezat hydropower development includes the Gura Apelor dam and the Retezat and Clopotiva hydropower plants, with an installed capacity of 349 MW and an average multiannual energy of 629.50 GWh. Although the hydropower plant commissioned in 1986 had an installed capacity of 335 MW, it has operated since then only for 200 MW. Through the retrofitting works, another 135 MW will be fully recovered and put into operation, which will lead to an increase in production capacity, to the improvement of the services provided by the National Energy System and to the consolidation of the energy security of our country.