The Arriach power plant in Carinthia was completely destroyed during the catastrophic storm night at the end of June. If Kelag plans to go ahead, a new powerhouse should be plugged into the grid as early as 2024.
Not much is left of the power plant in the gorge that was put into operation in 1925. Only a pile of rubble shows that a power station once stood at this point, because: “The power station and the electromechanical equipment were completely destroyed,” said Josef Stocker, Kelag’s press spokesman, with an audible shake. As a result, the energy company incurred millions of dollars in damage.
Residents are stunned
But not only the operator is astonished by the brutal size. Even when the inhabitants of the wasteland noticed that the historic building no longer existed, they realized the magnitude of the terrible catastrophe in the neighboring valley. “I mean, that was a huge building,” says one resident. Nevertheless, the floods of the Afritz Bach destroyed the important power plant for the region. After all, the two sets of machines generate about six million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
“Our experts are currently assessing the condition of the flow inlet, tunnel system and discharge pipeline,” explains Stocker.
New power plant already in the planning
And by the end of the year, the energy company wants to have a concept for the renovation. “After that comes the planning and the necessary tenders,” Stocker says. And already in 2024, a new power station should supply clean electricity.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
