Primorsky power station

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Primorsky power station (Приморская ГРЭС, Primorskaya GRES) is an operating power station of at least 1467-megawatts (MW) in Luchegorsk, Pozharsky, Primorsky, Russia with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Primorsky power station	Luchegorsk, Pozharsky, Primorsky, Russia	46.46517, 134.29063 (exact)

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Unit 1, Unit 10, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8, Unit 9: 46.46517, 134.29063

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	CHP	Start year
Unit 1	Operating	coal: lignite	110	subcritical	yes	1974
Unit 10	Announced	coal: lignite	445	unknown	–	2030 (planned)
Unit 2	Operating	coal: lignite	110	subcritical	yes	1975
Unit 3	Operating	coal: lignite	96	subcritical	yes	1975
Unit 4	Operating	coal: lignite	96	subcritical	yes	1977
Unit 5	Operating	coal: lignite	210	subcritical	yes	1979
Unit 6	Operating	coal: lignite	210	subcritical	yes	1980
Unit 7	Operating	coal: lignite	210	subcritical	yes	1982
Unit 8	Operating	coal: lignite	210	subcritical	yes	1983
Unit 9	Operating	coal: lignite	215	subcritical	yes	1990

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Unit 1	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 10	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 2	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 3	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 4	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 5	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 6	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 7	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 8	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown
Unit 9	Kuzbassenergo JSC	unknown

Project-level coal details

• Coal source(s): Luchegorsky coal mine

Ownership Tree

This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

Background

The plant used to be owned by the Far Eastern Generating Company, which is in turn majority-owned by RusHydro. In September 2019, RusHydro agreed to an asset swap which would transfer ownership of the plant and the Luchegorsky coal mine to Andrey Melnichenko, the majority-minority owner of the Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK). In June 2020, the asset swap was completed with SUEK becoming the plant's owner. Siberian Generation Company, part of SUEK, is managing the asset.

The nine-unit, 1,467-MW, mine-to-mouth Primorsky GRES power station (also referred to as the Luchegorsky Fuel & Energy Complex (LuTEK)) was built between 1974 and 1990. The plant is the largest in Russia's Far East, and its 330-meter Stack 3 is tied for the 14th tallest in the world.

In 2021, the plant generated 5,210 million kWh of electricity, in 2020 generation was 4,857 million kWh. In 2022, generation increased by 7% to 5,600 million kWh, driven by growth in demand from the industrial and residential sectors influenced also by a colder winter and emergency repairs conducted at two other power plants. The plant generated 5,951 million kWh in 2025, a 5% increase year-on-year. On 30 January 2025, the station carried a load of 1,240 MW — its highest in 15 years — following the modernization of Unit 5, which added 210 MW of capacity.

Modernization/Refurbishment to Increase Generation

In 2021, SUEK announced plans for a large-scale modernization of the Primorsky power station, which would entail extensive repairs on all 9 of the station's power units. Work was scheduled to take place between April 2022 and April 2024. SUEK expected the modernization to "significantly increase the power generation capacity" of the power station, but did not provide a specific estimate.

In April 2021, modernization started at Unit 1; and in April, at Unit 6. This modernization was planned with a goal for the existing units to reach their projected capacities, since they have not been producing sufficient output (in some cases, for more than a decade) due to being outdated.

The modernization project was approved by Glavgosekspertiza in 2022, stating that it will allow the plant to increase its operating hours from the current 4,000h per year to 6,500h per year.

In its 2022, report on the plant, Siberian Generation Company reported that a major overhaul of turbine Unit 4 was completed. Other major works included replacement of worn metal of wet ash collectors, gas intake shafts, dust systems, hot and and cold air systems and internal/external gas ducts. The cost of modernization amounted to RUB 5.2 bn. The report also mentioned planned increase in generation by 70% following the completion of the modernization program.(This is roughly consistent with the increase in working hours mentioned above).

In April 2023, Siberian Generation Company reported that modernization started on the largest Unit 9, expected to take place over 8 months. Due to delay of works, in winter 2023/2024 the plant was planned to work without two Units (presumably, without Unit 5 ad Unit 9) and with capacity limitations on the other units, in addition to a large number of emergency repairs. About half of installed capacity (745MW) was planned for modernization in 2023. The company planned to modernize Units 3 and 7 in 2024, with all units to be modernized by 2026.

Modernization plans are faced with challenges due to delays and cost increases. The cost of modernization of the plant has allegedly doubled, as reported in early 2024.

In June 2024, it was reported that modernization of Unit 1 and Unit 8 was completed, while works on Unit 9 were still in progress. Works on Unit 9 were reported to be completed in November 2024. Works on Unit 5 were completed in Q1 2025. Completed modernization of Units 5 and 9 should ensure that power generation can increase by up to 50% at the plant up to 9500 million kWh. Works on Unit 5 were completed in February 2025. In February 2025, it was reported that four out of nine units have now been modernized. As of December 2025, modernization of Units 3 and 6 was nearing completion.

By late 2025, the cost estimate for the modernization of Primorsky power station had risen to 70 billion rubles (ca. $838.0 million), largely due to increased material and equipment costs and a shortage of qualified labor. The project is being financed both under the COMMod federal modernization program (for the main equipment upgrades) and through substantial off-COMMod investments by SGC, which has been allocating around 7 billion rubles (ca. $83.9 million) annually for large-scale repairs since 2023. As a result, cumulative off-program spending was expected to reach approximately 35 billion rubles (ca. $419.3 million) by 2027.

Modernization of Unit 6 was completed and the unit was commissioned on May 5, 2026, with its capacity increasing by 70 MW to reach its design level of 210 MW. Works on Unit 7 began shortly after, with SGC dismantling equipment and preparing the site for the next stage. The total cost of the modernization programme under the DPM-2 federal programme was revised upward to 108 billion rubles (~$1.46 billion) by late 2025, up from 65 billion rubles in 2023, due to rising material and equipment costs and a shortage of qualified labour. SGC additionally allocated around 7 billion rubles annually for off-programme large-scale repairs since 2023, with cumulative off-programme spending expected to reach approximately 35 billion rubles by 2027.

Expansion

The updated 'General Scheme of Power Assets Allocation up to 2042' released in November 2024 indicated that a new planned unit of 445MW is planned in 2030, noting that this may be adjusted subject to the outcome of competitive auctions. Media reports from Q4 2024 also mentioned the potential to build a new unit, although with a lower capacity of 350MW, but this is more of a long-term plan. A pre-project survey of the territory was underway to select a site for the new unit. As of May 2025, there was no further news on the proposal.

As of May 2025, the expansion was not included in the power system development plan for 2025-2030 in Primorski Krai. As of December 2025, it was not in the consulative document on the power system development plan for 2026-2032 in Primorski Krai.

As of May 2026, no further developments on Unit 10 were reported. The unit was not included in the Scheme and Programme for the Development of Russia's Electric Power Systems for 2026–2031 for Primorsky Krai. Regional authorities noted in April 2026 that Primorsky Krai's power deficit had become acute: installed capacity in the region stood at 2,700 MW as of January 1, 2026, while peak consumption reached a new historical high of 2,800 MW - exceeding installed capacity for the first time. Demand was projected to grow to 3,300 MW by 2030, and further still with new industrial projects factored in.

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Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.