The plant is available and successfully participates in the country's electric power system
On 16 May hydropower unit 2 of Chaira PSHPP successfully passed the State Acceptance Committee and received Act 16. The Commission certified that the rehabilitation was carried out in full accordance with the detailed design and in strict compliance with all requirements of the Bulgarian legislation. With this document, NEK will receive permission to use the hydro unit and complete the final stage of the successful restoration of the facility.
Thanks to the consistent efforts of the teams of National Electricity Company and the implemented innovative engineering solution, the largest ‘battery’ in the Balkans has been available for the needs of the power system for almost 6 months and will continue to actively participate in covering the country's peak loads.
In parallel, NEK continues to work intensively to bring the remaining hydro units back into operation. We recall that at the beginning of 2025 the company signed two contracts for repair and rehabilitation of hydro units 1 and 3. Repair and rehabilitation activities are progressing according to the schedule agreed with the contractors.
NEK signed a contract with Toshiba Corporation (Japan) to repair hydro unit 1 in order to return the facility to service until it is fully replaced. With the Austrian consortium Voith-ABB NEK signed a contract for the repair and rehabilitation of hydro unit 3, for which a special engineering solution will be developed and implemented, similar to the one implemented for the rehabilitation of hydro unit 2.
In order to ensure sustainable long-term operation of Chaira pumped storage hydropower plant, NEK initiated a procedure for the complete replacement of hydro units 1 and 4 and received applications for participation from 5 companies, including leading companies in the hydropower sector. Bidders are currently being evaluated, after which a second stage of the tender will take place.
