BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 12
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Gardabani-2 thermal power plant (TPP) with an installed capacity of 230 MW started producing electricity in test mode in Georgia, according to JSC Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC), which is the owner of the Gardabani-2 TPP, Trend reports citing Georgian media outlets.
As reported, Georgian Electricity System Commercial Operator (ESCO) has already registered this TPP as a wholesale market participant for the period of its trial launch and comprehensive testing.
The construction of the station began three years ago, 33 km from Tbilisi in the territory of the Gardabani municipality.
Gardabani-2 TPP was built by China Tianchen Engineering Corporation. Its construction was estimated at $159 million, and financing was provided from GOGC resources and funds raised from Chinese banks. Commissioning of the station is planned for the winter season of 2019-2020.
According to the project, TPP consists of one combined cycle unit in a 2-2-1 configuration, that is, it has two gas turbine generators, two steam heat recovery units and one General Electric steam turbine-generator. The warranty period of operation of the power plant is at least 25 years.
GOGC plans to build another combined cycle thermal power plant with an installed capacity of up to 250 MW.
In 2015, the first combined cycle TPP with an installed capacity of 237 MW with an annual production of 1.6 billion kWh of electricity was commissioned in Gardabani. The $231-million project was funded by GOGC and the state-owned Partnership Fund.
The TPP was built by the Turkish company Çalik Enerji, which also participated in the construction of the Gardabani-2 TPP.
GOGC was established in March 2006 through the merger of Georgian Oil International Corporation JSC, Georgian Gas International Corporation JSC and Gruzneft JSC.
In 2012, a 100 percent stake in GOGC was transferred to the Partnership Fund JSC by a decision of the Government of Georgia, which was established with the aim of assisting in the financing of strategically important investment projects.
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