Bajina Basta PSHPP

“Bajina Bašta” pumped storage hydropower plant was built during the period from 1976 to 1982 and comprises the following main structures:

  • “Lazići” dam and reservoir – located in the Beli Rzav River catchment area. The dam is a rock fill dam with central clay core, 130 m high and 219 m long,
  • Tunnel – 8 km long and with average diameter of 6.3 m,
  • Penstock – 1,700 m long, with a diameter of 4.8/4.2 m,
  • Powerhouse with pump-turbine units, installed capacity of 600 MW and
  • Structures for control and protection, surge chamber.

The “Lazići” reservoir provides conditions for seasonal water regulation. The discharge of small tributaries located downstream of the “Lazići” dam are collected in the “Spajići” reservoir and transferred by the Đurići pumping station into the Lazići reservoir. The PSHPP powerhouse is located next to the Bajina Bašta HPP powerhouse.  The environmentally guaranteed flow is 50 m3/s. The rehabilitation of the generator equipment of both units has been completed in 2005.

The main characteristics of “Bajina Bašta” PSHPP with the “Lazići” dam and appurtenant structures are as follows:

  • Lazići reservoir
Total volume170 Mm3
Live volume153 Mm3
Max. OEL881.5 m.a.s.l.
Normal OEL880.0 m.a.s.l.
Min. OEL815.0 m.a.s.l.
  • Lazići dam
TypeRock fill with central clay core
Crest elevation883.4 m.a.s.l.
Height130 m
  • Bajina Basta PSHPP
TypePumped storage power plant
Max. head 609 m
Rated head 572 m
Min. head504 m
Installed flow129 m3/s
Installed power614 MW
Annual energy1,200 GWh
No. of units2
Type of turbineFrancis
Lazici dam
Bajina Basta PSHPP

Source: IWRM Country Report for Serbia, COWI, Stucky and Jaroslav Cerni Water Institute, 2017