OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 June 2009 was announced, that following its rehabilitation, Vilnius transformer substation of Lietuvos Energija is back to work. The investment of LTL 86m has allowed a replacement of the entire 45-year-old equipment of the substation. This facility, turned into the most modern substation in Lithuania, is located in Traku Voke and is the key node of electricity supply for the nation‘s capital.

“Following the renovation of Vilnius transformer substation and increasing of its capacity, we achieved several goals, important for the Lithuanian transmission grid: reliability, efficiency and development”, – said Mr.Vidmantas Grusas, Board Member, Chief Technical Executive of Lietuvos Energija.   According to him, we shall benefit from this modernization not only thanks to the increased reliability of the substation, but also because of the significantly lower costs of its maintenance – it will require fewer repairs, the staff will be able to better focus on other facilities of the region.

After the installation of the remote control system, Vilnius transformer substation will not require a constant presence of the standby personnel, while the number of the staff has dropped to more than a half – from 16 to 7, payroll costs were cut by 60 per cent. 7 specialists with upgraded qualification, working at the renovated substation, will also monitor 330 kV switchyard of Lietuvos Elektrine and 110 kV switchyard of Vilnius CHP.

Vilnius transformer substation is an outdoor-type 330/110/10 kV transformer substation. The substation was put into operation in 1964, upon launching of 330 kV power transmission line Lietuvos Elektrine – Vilnius – Minsk. It was the third 330 kV substation in Lithuania.

The reconstruction began in September 2006, after the Swedish company EMPOWER performed a feasibility study and recommended replacement of the entire equipment of the substation. Its replacement was carried out in two stages while ensuring uninterrupted supply of power. The former equipment of Vilnius transformer substation will be used for repairs of other transformer substations.  The metal constructions of obsolete equipment will be disposed as scrap metal, the oil will be recycled adhering to regulations.

This year Lietuvos Energija allocated a total of LTL 120m for investment projects. The bulk of these funds will be directed to the construction and rehab of transformer substations of the transmission grid, preparation of power transmission lines for strategic interconnection projects as well as modernization and development of Kaunas hydro power plant and Kruonis pumped storage plant.

Among the key investment projects of the company is the construction of the new 330 kV OH power line Klaipeda – Telsiai, requisite for the interconnection with Swedish power system. In preparation for construction of the power bridge with Poland, the reinforcement of the power transmission line Kruonis-Alytus will be carried out. The towns will be interconnected by a double-circuit 330 kV power transmission OH line. In 2009 Lietuvos Energija AB also completed the second stage of construction of 110/10 kV Nemunas transformer substation and is planning to start the rehabilitation of 110/35/10 kV Naujoji Akmene and Kursenai, 110/10 kV Ignalina, Silkas and Savitiskis transformer substations.

Briefly about Lietuvos Energija AB: Lietuvos Energija AB is a subsidiary of the national investment company LEO LT AB, which performs functions of electricity transmission grid (110-330 kV voltage) owner, system operator and market operator and seeks to ensure the stability of electricity transmission and power system in Lithuania. LEO LT AB controls 96.4 per cent of Lietuvos Energija AB shares.