Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 October / Trend corr. E.Ismayilov/The two largest power stations -Sumgait and Sangachal, are expected to be launched to the end of 2008 and early 2009, Etibar Piriverdiyev, the head of the Azerenrgy joint stock company, said on 20 October. At present, the balancing and commissioning are being carried out in stations.
"These are two important projects. I think that the two stations to be connected to the energy system of the country to the end of this year," Piriverdiyev said.
The capacity of Sumgait power stations is 525 MWt. In accordance with the forecasts of specialists, the annual production capacity in the station is 3.8bln KWt/h. Some 230 grams of fuel is needed for production of 1KWt/h electric energy. The annual gas fuel demand in the station is 630mln cu m. The cost of the construction of the combined-cycle plant is €257mln.
The financing deal was achieved by the Bayern LB bank ( Germany), Societe de General (France) and BNP Paribas (France). Three banks allocate equal shares by 15 (first three years three privileged) with Libor +0.55% loan rates. Within the project the construction of 107km high-voltage power line is envisaged. A gas pipeline is also expected to be constructed for gas supply to the stations. The project's cost is €30mln.
The Finnish Warstila company is occupied with the construction of the power station in Sangachal. The power station's capacity is over 300 MW. Wartsila has proposed a new technology on switching the modular power station in Sangachal from gas to fuel oil and vice versa, which would profoundly speed up the process. Previously, the company suggested the switching term of 24 hours. Station cosnists of 18 units.
Currently, the real total capacity of the electric system of the country is 5,300 MW. "I think the electric demand this winter will be 4,300-4,500 MW. We will have certain energy reserve in winter," Piriverdiyev said.
The energy reserve in summer is over 800,000 MW.
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