39 Years of HPP ‘Piva’ Operation

Figure 1: Average output of HPP Piva and peak generation years

Figure 2: Share of output of HPP PIva in the 2014 total output

‘This energy facility is in an extremely good condition after almost four decades of operation, thanks to responsibility and professionalism of its employees. Around 146 GWh has been generated from the year beginning, i.e. 18.58% relative to the annual plan of 782 GWh. Although operation of HPP Piva depends mostly on precipitation over a catchment area, huge snowfall still has not had the impact onto inflows to the reservoir’, said Mr Milan Radović, the director of HPP Piva, on the occasion of marking 39 years of operation.

Milan Radović, director of HPP "Piva"

Last year hydro mechanical and electrical equipment of the intake structure was replaced, in addition to reconstruction of bridge cranes in a power house. These investments amounted to cca €930,000.00.

‘It is most important for us in HPP Piva to maintain the achieved level of plant’s operation safety. As far as it is concerned, we can be completely satisfied with what has been accomplished. Important projects aimed at ensuring facility’s safety and reliability are finished now. What is important in this job is to maintain the continuity, so that this year and the next ones are going to be the investment years’, said Mr Radović.

Since January 1st, when the Contract on Long-Term Business Cooperation signed with the Electric Power Enterprise of Serbia ceased to be effective, HPP Piva has been operating within the electric power system of Montenegro.

HPP Piva, with one of the largest concrete arc dams worldwide and the complete installation constructed underground, represents the world architectural curiosity. Constructive dam height is 220 m, arc length at the dam crest 268.6 m, and the bottom arc length is 40 m. At the foundations, the dam thickness stands at 36 m, or 4.5 m at the dam top. It is situated in the mountain ranges in the north-west of Montenegro, the left side of the dam leaning onto Vučevo, the right side onto the Pivska Mountain. Construction of HPP Piva lasted for 10 years, and almost the entire construction executive body of the Yugoslavia had been recruited.

HPP Piva, where many Montenegrin electrical engineers gained their precious working experience, employs currently 102 persons.