ANDRITZ has been selected to supply the complete electromechanical equipment for the refurbishment of Hidroelectrica’s Râul Mare Retezat hydropower plant in Romania.
The technology group will undertake the work as part of a consortium led by COBRA Instalaciones. ANDRITZ said its share of the contract is worth a high double-digit million-euro sum and was included in its order intake for the third quarter of 2026.
Râul Mare Retezat has an installed capacity of 335MW but is currently able to operate at only around 200MW because of limitations affecting its existing equipment.
The modernisation is expected to increase the plant’s installed capacity by approximately 12% to 376MW and make its full capacity available for operation. The project is also intended to improve the plant’s reliability, performance and ability to provide flexible services to Romania’s power system.
“This modernisation will turn Râul Mare Retezat into a reliable pillar of renewable electricity supply in western Romania, improve system services for the national power grid, and strengthen Romania’s energy security,” said Iulius-Dan Plaveti, CEO of SPEEH Hidroelectrica.
ANDRITZ’s scope includes the design, manufacture and supply of two 188MW high-head Francis turbines and generators, together with automation and auxiliary systems. The company will also supervise installation of the equipment.
Hidroelectrica is Romania’s largest electricity producer and a major provider of system services to the country’s national power system.
The modernisation project is scheduled for completion by 2031.
Earlier this month it was announced that ANDRITZ had secured a contract to modernise the 720MW Gabčíkovo hydropower plant on the Danube in Slovakia.
