Major upgrades under way at power plant

A boilermaker with Mechanical Construction Services of Newark, Ark., works to install new superheater elements -- the vertical steel pipes pictured in the background -- at the Sikeston Power Station Friday. (Photo by Scott Welton, Staff)

scottw@standard-democrat.com

SIKESTON -- If you think rebuilding a car engine is a lot of work, try a power plant.

"We have some major items going on currently," said Rick Landers, manager of the Sikeston Power Station.

In operation since 1981, the power plant is a little over halfway through its expected lifespan, according to Landers.

"Most people would say a coal unit will last about 50 years -- a gas unit may have an expected life of 30 years," he said.

With 31 years of operation, it is time for some major upgrades to Sikeston's coal-fired power plant.

"Once in the entire lifecycle of a power plant, the secondary superheater elements and reheater elements are replaced," Landers said.

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