Romanian hydropower producer Hidroelectrica has signed a major refurbishment agreement for the Raul Mare Retezat hydropower plant, launching a large-scale modernization project aimed at restoring lost generation capacity and improving operational performance at one of the country’s most important energy assets.
The contract, worth €188.5 million excluding VAT, was awarded to a consortium led by COBRA Instalaciones y Servicios in partnership with Andritz Hydro, with several Romanian subcontractors also participating in the implementation.
The procurement process began in September 2025 through Romania’s public procurement system, with bids submitted by December 2025. The initial estimated value of the project was €193.3 million, with the final contract awarded following the evaluation phase.
Although the Raul Mare Retezat hydropower plant was originally designed with an installed capacity of 335 MW, technical limitations have reduced its effective output to around 200 MW for several years. Hidroelectrica stated that the modernization program will recover approximately 135 MW of additional usable capacity, significantly increasing the plant’s contribution to Romania’s electricity system.
The company emphasized that the project is important not only for boosting electricity generation, but also for enhancing ancillary services provided to the national grid and strengthening Romania’s overall energy security.
The refurbishment program will include the replacement and modernization of key equipment to improve efficiency, reliability, and operational flexibility, while also reducing long-term maintenance and operating costs. According to Hidroelectrica, the upgraded systems will enable the plant to operate in line with modern technological standards and better respond to evolving electricity market conditions.
