Macedonia names Poyry to assess Lukovo Pole Dam, 5-MW Crn Kamen

SKOPJE, Macedonia 11/11/11 (PennWell) — A Macedonia utility has named Poyry Infra GmbH to perform environmental and social impact assessments of a plan to build Lukovo Pole Dam on the Kosovo border to divert water through three existing Macedonia hydro plants and to build a new 5-MW Crn Kamen hydro plant.

AD Elektrani na Makedonija-Skopje (JSC Macedonian Power Plants-Skopje) recruited consultants for the work in 2010. The utility recently named Civil Engineering Institute Makedonia to provide geological investigation services for the project.

Poyry Infra, a unit of Poyry of Finland, was chosen from among five bidders for the 271,320 euro (US$369,214) environmental and social assessment contract.

AD Elektrani na Makedonija-Skopje plans to build Lukovo Pole, a 71-meter-tall rockfill dam, reservoir, and 20-kilometer intake canal to divert water from the Korab mountains.

The project is to divert additional water through Macedonia’s existing Mavrovo River cascade, resulting in additional generation at the 150-MW Vrutok, 19.2-MW Raven, and 12.8-MW Vrben hydroelectric plants. Additionally, the 5-MW Crn Kamen hydropower plant is to be built at the primary outlet of Lukovo Pole.