Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility — a long-term pending project

Abstract

Introduction. In 1971, “Schedule of multi-purpose use and protection of water resources of the basin of the Belaya River” envisaged construction of a cascade of 10 waterworks facilities, subdivided in 4 sections. Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility was planned for construction in the third section, the most lucrative in terms of energetic utilization. However, of the three HPPs planned in this section: Varyazhskaya, Nizhne-Suyanskaya and Pavlovskaya HPP, for the time being, only Pavlovskaya HPP has been built. Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility had the mission to solve water household, energy and socio-economic problems. Materials and methods. Initial material for the study were the results of the “Substantiation of the investment in the construction of Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility in the Ufa River in the Republic of Bashkortostan” prepared by ОJSC Energy Engineering Centre of Volga Region. Based on the retrieved data, the following analyses were made: a theoretical analysis, an estimate substantiation; subsequently, conclusions were put down based on the obtained results. Results. The optimum solution is a comprehensive waterworks facility, since Nizhne-Suyanskaya HPP will allow for improvement of the electrical power supply of the consumers of the NE part of the Bashkir power supply network. The construction of Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility will enable the control of the water influx to the water storage basin of Pavlovskaya HPP allowing for its increased generation power. The construction of the waterworks facility is supposed to carry out in 2 stages. The first stage will be the erection of a concrete overflow weir as a single unit with the HPP building. The second stage will be the construction of a soil dam of local construction materials, that is: dam body of sand and gravel soil, PFU core of loamy soil. Simultaneously with the soil dam, on the right bank a solid blind concrete weir will be erected. Conclusions. Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility unfortunately was not built. Feasibility studies have demonstrated a rate of return of the waterworks facility of 12.8 %, the value being a little higher than the standard one. This justifies investment in Nizhne-Suyanskiy Waterworks Facility. The basic feasibility factors of the construction of the waterworks facility are: Federal support, project engagement of the executive authority of the Republic of Bashkortostan and PJSC RusHydro, as well as availability of free investment funds.