Tajikistan turns on three hydropower units at nation’s Kayrakkum HPP

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, September 9. Official
commissioning of three hydropower units has taken place at the
Kayrakkum hydroelectric power plant (HPP) in Tajikistan’s Sughd
region, following renovations, Trend reports.

The station’s recommissioning was inaugurated by President
Emomali Rahmon. According to the press service of the president,
the hydroelectric station, which consists of six units, saw its
last unit, with a designed capacity of 21 MW, come online in 1957.
Over 68 years of operation, the units and other key equipment have
become outdated.

Since 2019, under President Rahmon’s initiative, renovation work
has been underway. The overhaul of hydroelectric units No. 4, 5,
and 6 took over five years, with each unit’s capacity increasing
from 19 MW to 29 MW.

As part of the renovation project, key equipment in the machine
hall has been replaced, including the turbine control system,
transformers, excitation systems, the pressure water apparatus, and
the hydro unit control system. Six 40 MW transformers and other
major components, imported from European countries, have been
installed.

Additionally, an SF6 gas-insulated switchgear has replaced the
open air 220/110 kV switchgear. The project also included
strengthening the station’s dam, completing an assessment of the
old equipment on unit No. 2, and renovating five overhead
cranes.

Current work continues on assembling parts for hydro unit No. 3,
repairing the bridge over the upper level of the station, and
reconstructing other parts of the machine hall.

Upon full completion of this project and the commissioning of
remaining units, scheduled by 2026, the average annual electricity
production at the Kayrakkum HPP is expected to increase from 580
million kWh to 850 million kWh.