Norochcholai restart a multi-day process, says Energy Ministry

Friday, 23 October 2026 05:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Boiler, turbine temperatures must be raised gradually to avoid damage
Engineers must trace cause of shutdown, inspect and repair critical systems first
Generator synchronised with grid before output is ramped up
Major faults or extended shutdowns prolong recovery; minor ones may not

The Ministry of Energy has defended the time taken to bring the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai back online after shutdowns, saying a safe restart of the coal-fired facility can take several days.

Responding to public concern over the delays, the Ministry said the plant’s boiler and its metal components operate at extremely high temperatures and cannot be cooled or reheated abruptly, as uneven expansion and contraction would damage them. The turbines face a similar constraint, needing to reach the required temperature, pressure and operating conditions before running, with any shortcut risking costly machinery.

Each restart therefore follows a fixed sequence. Engineers first establish what caused the shutdown and examine pumps, valves, electrical systems and safety equipment, fixing any faults found. Only then is the boiler slowly brought up to temperature and pressure, with steam fed to the turbine in controlled stages to build up speed. Finally, the generator is synchronised with the national grid and output raised incrementally.

How long this takes varies with the circumstances of the shutdown, the condition of the equipment and the nature of the fault, the Ministry said, noting that while a major malfunction or prolonged outage would lengthen recovery, not every shutdown requires several days.