Hidroelectrica signed the contract for the modernization of the Vidraru hydropower plant

Hidroelectrica signed today the order to start the renovation works of the Vidraru Hydropower Plant, a project of strategic importance for the National Energy System (SEN). The contract worth around 188 million euros was won by the association formed by Electromontaj, Koncar – Engineering Co. Ltd. and Butan Group.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja emphasized the importance of this project for Romania’s energy future and expressed their support for initiatives that promote sustainability and energy efficiency.

“We are all looking at this impressive dam. I confess to you that I feel enormous pride in the past and total confidence in the future. I look to the future with confidence because never in its modern history has Romania invested and built at a more sustained rate than now. There are tens of billions of euros invested in everything that means critical infrastructures – transport, energy, health, IT, and more

today’s investment of over 200 million euros is one of the essential objectives for our energy system. This investment will allow us to modernize this masterpiece of Romanian engineering. I am convinced that if the investment of 1966 was amortized in 28 years, the one signed today will be recouped in a few years. /…/ I assure Hidroelectrica of the full support of the Romanian Government, we support any major investment in clean energy, because it is the best investment in the future of this country”, declared the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu.

“The upgrading of Vidraru CHPP will increase the production capacity of renewable energy and will have a positive impact on the entire national energy system. Most importantly, this investment will benefit us, all the citizens, as well as the business environment in Romania, through access to safe energy, at a fair price and as green as possible”, declared the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja.

“It is an honor to announce that, after 12 years, we are signing the first refurbishment contract at an electricity production plant. Carrying out this contract will be a challenge for everyone. The success of the listing is proof of Hidroelectrica’s progress. The most important objective of my mandate is to develop investment projects in the company’s core business, thus significantly extending the life of the equipment for green energy production. The renovation works will last seven years, during which we aim to achieve excellent performance. I assure you of my involvement and that of my colleagues […] After 58 years of operation of one of the main hydroelectric plants that contribute significantly to balancing the national energy system, this project marks a new chapter of development and innovation we undertake it with determination, in a time when the production of renewables brings challenges. We are happy to collaborate with Electromontaj, the leader of the consortium, and I invite you all to celebrate this moment.” said Karoly Borbely, CEO of Hidroelectrica.

The Vidraru Hydropower Plant, inaugurated on December 9, 1966, uses the hydropower potential of the Argeș River over a 28 km sector and has an installed capacity of 220 MW, contributing approximately 400 GWh annually to electricity production. The Vidraru Dam, at the time of its inauguration, was the fifth largest in Europe and the ninth in the world.

Hidroelectrica operates 187 plants with a hydropower capacity of 6.3 GW and owns a wind farm at Crucea with an installed capacity of 108 MW.