Azerbaijan to commission major combined cycle unit by mid-2015

Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.20 By Emil Ismayilov – Trend: Azerbaijan’s main electricity producer Azerenergy JSC will put into operation the second combined cycle unit at the Shimal power plant in the H1 of 2015, head of Azerenergy JSC Etibar Pirverdiyev said on Oct.20. He said the Shimal power plant plays an important role in the power supply of the Absheron peninsula. “The work on constructing of a new unit is underway and it will be commissioned by June 2015,” Pirverdiyev said. The new unit is being constructed in accordance with the agreement signed with Japan’s Toyo Engineering Corporation. Its capacity will be 409 megawatt. Pirverdiyev said over 10,000 kilometers of power supply lines, more than 1,500 substations, up to eight small hydro power plants have been repaired and constructed in recent years. “The work on construction of small hydro power plants is underway and several such facilities will be commissioned soon,” he said. Currently, the Shimal power plant meets a quarter of power demand of Baku and Absheron. Once the second unit is put into operation, this figure will reach 35-40 percent. Presently, the Shimal power plant has one combined cycle unit with the capacity of 400 megawatt. The capacity of Azerbaijan’s power supply system has increased by 40 percent in 10 years and hit 7,100 megawatt, which allows to export some 2,300 megawatt of electricity. Currently, Azerbaijan’s electricity potential is based on 14 thermal and 10 hydro power plants. Azerbaijan carries out power exchange with Georgia, Iran and Russia. Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency