Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Nov. 29 / Trend D.Azizov /
The Uzbekenergo state joint stock company will complete the first phase of the project converting the Novo-Angren thermal power plant to a year-round coal burning type through modernisation of the Angren coal mine (Tashkent region) in the second half of 2013, a source at the company told Trend on Thursday.
"The completion of the project was postponed due to a powerful landslide that took place in the section this year delaying the upgrading of the mine. As a result, the work on this part of the project and delivery of the equipment had to be stopped," the source said.
Previously it was reported that initially the completion of the project was planned for 2011, but later the schedule was adjusted and completion was scheduled for late 2012.
The modernisation of the Angren coal mine is a part of the transition of the Novo-Angren thermal power plants unit № 1-5 to year-round burning coal (Stage 1) through the modernisation of the Angren section, the realisation of which was launched in 2010.
The total project cost is $272.8 million, including the cost of the first phase of coal mine modernisation worth $162.3 million.
Funding is provided by a $51.28 million loan from the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development of, $113.8 million and credit of the Chinese Ex-Im Bank and Uzbekenergo equity.
The general contractor of the Angren section's modernisation is the Chinese China Coal Energy firm.
Coal production will be increased from 3.2 million tons to 6.4 million tons per year at Angren cut, with delivery of up to .36 million tons of coal a year to Novo-Angren thermal power plant during the first phase of the project.
Transition of existing units of Novo-Angren thermal power station to year-round burning of coal supplied from Angren cut will ensure the generation of electricity in the amount of 7.02 billion kWh / year and release the natural gas in the volume of 713.5 million cubic meters.
Every year "Uzbekugol" extracts about 3.8 million tons of coal. Uzbekenergo's enterprises - thermal power plants using solid fuel are the main consumer. More than 85 percent of the total coal consumption in the country falls to them.
According to "Uzbekugol", currently known coal reserves in Uzbekistan hit 1.832 billion tons, including brown - 1.786 billion tons, coal - 46.3 million tons.
Coal is extracted at three fields Angren brown coal, Shargun and Baisun coal deposits.
According to official statistics, the production of coal decreased by 9.3 percent in Uzbekistan in January-September 2012 - up to 2.411 million tons. Electricity production in January-September 2012 decreased by 1.1 percent compared to the same period in 2011 - up to 39.152 billion kW