Pļaviņas Hydroelectric Power Station
The construction aroused an unusual wave of protest in 1958. Most Latvians opposed the flooding of historical sites and a particularly scenic gorge with rare plants and natural features, such as the Staburags. The construction of the dam was endorsed in 1959, however, after the purge of relatively liberal and nationally oriented leaders under Eduards Berklavs and their replacement by Moscow-oriented, ideologically conservative cadres led by Arvīds Pelše.
The plant was put into full operation in 1968. In 1991–2001, six additional turbines were added to the original four, thus increasing the capacity to 868.5MW. Reconstruction and overhaul of the units between 2007 and 2010 increased both the efficiency of the plant and its power output to 908 MW. In 2016 the plant produced 1,386 GWh.
The complex is operated by Latvenergo.
See also
References
- ^ "Daugava hydropower plants". Latvenergo. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
- ^ "Project - Pļaviņas". EBRD. 18 August 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-01-09.