Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 1
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
Uzbekenergo State Joint-Stock Company (SJSC) plans to announce a tender for the modernization of Takhiatash thermal power plant in the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan (northwest Uzbekistan) in the third quarter of 2015, the website of the company said.
The project worth $678.2 million includes the construction of two combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) with a capacity of 230-280 megawatts each with the decommissioning of three old blocks of the thermal power plants and keeping two energy blocks as the reserve ones, the report said.
As a result, the plant capacity will increase from 730 megawatts at present to 930 megawatts, the electricity output will increase by 1.7 times, up to 5.4 billion kilowatt/hours. In addition, the annual savings of natural gas will amount to 488.6 million cubic meters.
"Such an approach, i.e. the construction of energy-efficient units with the decommissioning of old and inefficient rigs, will become the first integrated model on modernization and pave the way for the restructuring of the energy sector, which faces severe problems with aging assets," said the report.
The project will be financed by the ADB`s loan in the amount of $300 million allocated to Uzbekistan in September 2014, the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and equity of the Uzbekenergo State Joint Stock Company.
The installed capacity of the Takhiatash thermal power plant is 730 megawatts. The first unit of power plant was commissioned in 1956, the last (fifth) - in 1967.
The power plant provides electricity to the northwest of the country, the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region.
At present, there are 45 power plants in Uzbekistan with total capacity of about 12,800 megawatts.
Up to 90 percent of all electricity produced in the country is produced by 10 thermal power stations of the company with a total installed capacity of 11.6 million kilowatts.
Uzbekenergo SJSC increased electricity production by 2.3 percent up to 55 billion kilowatt/hours in Uzbekistan in 2014, compared to 2013.
The potential capacity for the production of electricity is 56-57 billion kilowatt/hours.
Edited by CN