Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex as a Link in Hydroelectric Chain

Lower Don Hydroelectric Chain

Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex was designed back in 1950s as a part of the integrated Volga–Don System construction project. The project included the Volga–Don Shipping Canal and the Lower Don Hydroelectric Chain comprised of Tsimlyansky, Nikolaevsky, Konstantinovsky, Kochetovsky, Bagaevsky and Aksaysky hydroelectric complexes.

At the project inception, the only existing facility was the Kochetovsky Hydroelectric Complex that had been built back in 1920. The first stage of the major project included construction of the Volga–Don Shipping Canal and the Tsimlyansky Hydroelectric Complex comprised of a water reservoir and a hydroelectric power plant (HPP). The Canal construction was being carried out round-the-clock and was completed in record time for those days, as it only took 4.5 years. The Volga–Don Canal combined the two rivers – the Don and the Volga – and five seas – the White, Caspian, Baltic, Azov and Black – into a single water transport network. To commemorate this event, the “Union of the Five Seas” monument was erected near one of the canal locks. The interesting feature of this canal is its length, which exceeds 100 kilometres. It takes vessels 11 to 12 hours to sail along its length through 13 locks. Settlements for builders, water reservoirs and about a hundred hydraulic facilities, such as dams, barrages and locks, were built in addition to the canal. The Tsimlyansky Hydroelectric Complex is a multifunctional hydraulic facility serving as the first stage of the Lower Don Hydroelectric Chain. It serves as a balancing reservoir, creates conditions for transit navigation and gravity irrigation of lands by discharging water through its barrage. The hydroelectric power plant of the complex is a source of electricity.

Nikolaevsky Hydroelectric Complex

Konstantinovsky Hydroelectric Complex

Kochetovsky Hydroelectric Complex

The Nikolaevsky and Konstantinovsky Hydroelectric Complexes were built during the second stage of the Volga–Don System construction. Both Nikolaevsky and Konstantinovsky Hydroelectric Complexes comprise a spillway dam and a lock for vessel lifting and lowering between the river sections having different water levels.

The planned third stage of the Volga–Don System involved the construction of the Bagaevsky and Aksaysky Hydroelectric Complexes. Their erection would have provided guaranteed fairway depth of 4 m up to the city of Rostov-on-Don. But this stage could not be implemented due to the economic situation prevailing in the country at that time.

By the early 2000s, only two major limiting sections of the Don River waterway were remaining – the Kochetovsky Hydroelectric Complex and the complicated area from there to the Arpachinsky shoal. After the commissioning of the Volga–Don Canal, the dimensions of the Kochetovsky lock became a serious obstacle to navigation, since new ships, reaching a length of 130–140 metres, simply did not fit into the lock chamber. The problem was solved by constructing a new lock, commissioned in 2008.  

In 2017, following the order of the President of the Russian Federation and the Governmental Decree, the construction of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex was launched.  The first stage construction was carried out by Stroytransgaz Group of Companies acting as the general contractor: a berth was built, dredging was carried out at the shipping channel and in the berth construction zone, sites for future hydroelectric facilities were sluiced, and a temporary power line was built to enable the construction of the second-stage facilities. Compensatory measures for damage to aquatic biological resources were taken.

Rendering of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex – Lock

Spillway Dam with Fish Gate

Today, Stroytransgaz Group of Companies is carrying out work on the second stage of the project. A lock, upper and lower approach channels with berthing guide structures, spillway and earth dams, a fish bypass and spawning channel, a settlement for operators, access roads, industrial, service and auxiliary facilities will be constructed as part of the Hydroelectric Complex. Dams for engineering protection of the sites, bank protection and bed straightening sections and the Aksai Balancing Spillway will be built at the Bagaevsky Reservoir. In addition, the reservoir area and downstream section will be dredged.

Construction of the Bagaevsky Hydroelectric Complex, the last stage of the Lower Don Hydroelectric Chain, will increase the competitiveness of inland waterway freight transportation, eliminate the waterway restrictions, and improve the operating conditions of the Don region water industry.