Voith subsidiary VolgaHydro has today officially opened its new production plant in Balakovo, Russia, with the facility set to produce and assemble components for hydropower plant turbines.
Around 100 new jobs have been created within the plant in the Saratov Region, with plans for another 100 jobs to be created. Total investment for the project amounts to 2.5 billion Russian ruble
“With the new plant in Balakovo, Voith deepens its position on the Russian market. This means that the new production facility will benefit from our innovative developments and technologies for the design and fabrication of hydropower components and we can serve our Russian clients fully locally,” said Dr. Leopold Heninger, CEO & President of Voith Hydro Europe. “Furthermore, the company will be involved in hydropower projects in the CIS countries.”
The first major contract for the new plant in Balakovo includes the production of components for eight Kaplan turbines for the Russian hydropower plant Saratov. With a diameter of 10.3m each, and a runner weight of 314 metric tons, the turbines are the largest of their kind in Russia. The Saratov plant has been in operation for more than 50 years and is currently undergoing an extensive modernization.
In 2013, VolgaHydro has been founded as a joint venture between Voith and RusHydro, one the world’s largest producers of energy from hydropower. The company is designated to become the innovation center in Russia, contributing to the development of national science and engineering in the field of hydropower. In 2016, the company celebrated the official laying of the foundation stone for the new production plant in Balakovo. In February 2019, Voith acquired the share in the joint venture from RusHydro.
