Montenegro’s state power utility EPCG has returned 190 MW of capacity at the Perućica hydropower plant to operation after completing the main phase of its annual maintenance programme. The restoration brings additional generation capacity back online following the maintenance period.
Unit status and expected restart timeline
At present, units A1, A2, A6 and A7 are operating. The remaining three units are expected to return to operation around mid-September.
Repairs are continuing on the needle-valve servomotor of unit A4. This work is delaying refilling of the second penstock and the restart of units A3, A4 and A5.
Maintenance schedule changes during August
EPCG’s annual overhaul had initially been planned around a full shutdown during August. The plant was drained at the end of July, but EPCG later changed the schedule after the Pljevlja thermal power plant went offline and national electricity supply conditions tightened.
Perućica was temporarily restarted before all maintenance work was completed. This limited the plant’s full shutdown to just over two weeks during the second half of August.
Generation output and reservoir levels ahead of full return
The plant generated 610,800 MWh before the maintenance period began. Strong output during the first quarter kept cumulative generation above plan despite the summer overhaul.
Reservoirs supplying Perućica are around 40% full. EPCG aims to return all seven units to operation by mid-September, restoring one of Montenegro’s main sources of flexible domestic generation.
