Dniester Hydroelectric Station
The Dnister HES is a 702 MW hydroelectric power station at the Dnister near Novodnistrovsk, Ukraine. It was launched in commercial operation 1981. Both Dnister Hydroelectric Station and Dniester Pumped Storage Power Station are operated by Ukrhydroenergo and compose the Dnister Cascade of power stations. Dnister HES-2 is located downstream and has a 40.8 MW capacity.
History
The decision to build a power plant was adopted by the Soviet Government in 1972. The following year, preparatory work started, and the main structures of the hydrocomplex began to be erected in 1975. The six turbines were commissioned in 1981–1983, two in each year. The building of the power plant led to the creation of a new town, Novodnistrovsk.The power plant was renovated in 1998 with funding provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Another round of renovations happened in 2006–2011.
The plant was attacked multiple times during the Russo-Ukrainian War. On the morning of 31 October 2022, Russian forces launched a massive missile strike on Ukraine's critical infrastructure, including a confirmed missile hit on the territory of the Dniester Hydroelectric Power Plant. Another attack took place in 2024.