The Mamakanskaya hydropower plant in the Irkutsk region has completed testing of its second hydraulic unit following a comprehensive modernization. This unit is the first of four scheduled for replacement as part of a technical overhaul of the facility. The plant, which began operations in December 1961, was the first hydroelectric project in the country constructed in a permafrost zone.
The testing phase included a series of automatic starts and load adjustments to verify the ability of the new generator to regulate frequency within the regional power grid. The final stage consisted of a continuous 72 hour trial at both minimum and maximum power levels. Technical data indicates the unit maintained a stable connection with the national power system without interrupting electricity supply to consumers.
Regional dispatch officials said the completion of the work on the second unit improves the overall reliability of the plant. Extending the operational life of the facility ensures a consistent energy supply for the northern territories of the Irkutsk region. The plant serves as the primary power source for local residents and the regional gold mining industry, while the new equipment allows for more efficient use of water from the Mamakan River.
The modernization program for the facility, where the original equipment dates to the 1960s, began in 2024. Transporting large components to the remote site in northern Irkutsk required complex logistics due to the geographical isolation of the area. Engineers removed the original hardware to install a new turbine, generator, and supporting auxiliary systems produced in Russia.
Management plans to complete similar upgrades on the remaining three units by 2031. The full implementation of the program is expected to increase the total installed capacity of the Mamakanskaya plant by 26 megawatts, bringing it to 112 megawatts. Located 12 kilometers downstream from the town of Bodaibo, the station remains a critical infrastructure asset for the Bodaibo and Mamsko-Chuysky districts.
