Case study from the archive · First published in 2009

Fast Recovery of Critical Energy Infrastructure

Following a devastating fire during the commissioning of a modernized transformer station near Moscow, BELFOR was selected to restore the heavily contaminated facility after other contractors failed to meet requirements. Within seven weeks, an international team completed the restoration, helping keep a major energy infrastructure project on track.

Extensive Fire and Soot Contamination

An insulation fault destroyed a 110 kV transformer and spread soot, smoke residues, and hazardous fire debris throughout the facility. The damage threatened to delay a vital modernization project designed to strengthen Moscow’s electricity supply and meet growing energy demand.

International Expertise for a Complex Restoration

The restoration required the manual cleaning of approximately 1.2 kilometers of high-voltage pipe systems, some up to 60 cm in diameter. Using specialized chemicals and techniques, BELFOR restored sensitive electrical components and infrastructure while coordinating 50 specialists from Austria, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Hungary.

Coordinated Execution Under Challenging Conditions

Beyond the technical work, the project demanded seamless coordination between plant operators, equipment suppliers, authorities, and international restoration teams. BELFOR managed logistics, equipment mobilization, and visa arrangements to ensure the project was completed efficiently and to the customer’s full satisfaction.

Coordination

BELFOR’s strengths:

This project demonstrates BELFOR’s ability to combine specialist expertise from across Europe to solve complex industrial losses. The BELFOR Major & Complex Projects team coordinates multinational teams and delivers consistent technical standards, BELFOR helps industrial clients, insurers, and loss adjusters minimize downtime and accelerate recovery after major fire losses.