Reconstruction of the 10 kV switchgear at the 35/10 kV “Centar” substation in Podgorica is entering its final phase, with the facility expected to be fully operational during May. This project will significantly improve the security of supply and the quality of electricity delivery for more than 10,000 customers in the central area of the Capital City, parts of the area across the Morača River, Blok 5, Blok 6, Brijeg Morače, Drač and Pobrežje, as well as certain facilities of national importance (the Government of Montenegro building, the National Security Agency, the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, the Children’s Hospital, the US Embassy …). This investment has also enabled the connection of new 10 kV feeders, thereby accommodating growth in consumption in this part of Podgorica’s load area. Once the facility is commissioned, CEDIS will also achieve savings over time by reducing the costs of preventive and corrective maintenance of this power facility.
“The completed reconstruction of the 10 kV switchgear does not increase the existing capacity, which remains at 3 × 8 MVA for now, but the new switchgear will have 44 cubicles, a significant increase compared with the previous arrangement. Among other things, a neutral-point earthing resistor is being installed for the first time, enabling the 10 kV network supplied by this substation to operate with an earthed neutral, depending on operational requirements and network parameters,” said Vanja Maksimović, Project Manager.
The reconstruction works were carried out by “Novi Volvox” d.o.o. Podgorica, with the installation of state-of-the-art equipment from the renowned company “ABB”.
The works were carried out in phases and required complex organisation, as one half of the new switchgear was being installed while the other half of the existing switchgear remained energised. The way the activities were organised, with significant support from CEDIS’s Operations and Maintenance Sectors, kept outages to the necessary minimum. This was particularly important given the “sensitivity” of the load supplied by the “Centar” substation.
Back in 1977, when it was commissioned, the “Centar” substation was a key supply point for the load area of what was then Titograd.
Before the reconstruction, two 35 kV supply cable lines had been installed at this facility. Two 35 kV cubicles and one 10 kV cubicle had also been equipped. Preventive maintenance included regular and periodic inspections of the equipment, as well as replacement of oil circuit breakers with vacuum circuit breakers in a number of cubicles.
Corporate Communications Department – CEDIS
