Asalouyeh Power Plant Project Picking Up Pace

"The venture has registered a work-in-progress rate of 65%, of which 30% have been made in the last six months," Mohammad Mehdi Tavassolipour was also quoted as saying by Shana on Saturday.

According to the official, the process of manufacturing components has gathered momentum since domestic and foreign producers have been provided with financial incentives.

"POGC has placed orders for turbines and generators," he said, noting that water desalination units are being installed.

Pointing to heat recovery steam generators, Tavassolipour noted, "Key part of theses boilers have been manufactured by an international company and they are being imported."

HRSG is a heat exchanger that recovers heat from a hot gas stream. It produces steam that can be used both in cogeneration and in a steam turbine combined cycle.

According to PGOC, Asalouyeh power station is an eco-friendly project as it not only prevents greenhouse gases from spreading, but also helps recycle the gases to be used in steam production cycle.

The official added that as soon as the 500-megawatt power station goes on stream, South Pars electricity generation capacity will reach 1,500 MW.

"The under construction plant will provide power for phases 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 and 21 refineries," he said, noting that refining complexes in Pars 2 region, including phases 12, 13, 14, 19, 22, 23 and 24, will also rely on the new power plant in emergency cases.

Comprising 24 phases, South Pars is the world's largest gas field shared by Iran and Qatar in the Persian Gulf. Iran is now drawing around 500 million cubic meters per day of natural gas from the joint field with the tiny Arab state's output reportedly at 650-700 mcm/d.

  New Capacity

According to Hamidreza Azimi, deputy energy minister for planning, an estimated 3,500 MW in new electricity production capacity will be added to the national power grid by the summer of next year.

"Total electricity production capacity stands at 77,000 MW, of which 64,000 MW are generated in thermal power plants operated by Thermal Power Plants Holding Company," Azimi said, noting that the new capacity is expected to help the Energy Ministry avoid periodic outages during the hot summer when demand peaks for cooling homes and businesses.

Azimi noted that TPPH is in charge of developing 7,000 MW of gas-powered units in Jahrom, Sabalan, Kashan, Urmia, Chabahar and Asalouyeh combined cycle power plants as well as completing Parand Power Plant in southern Tehran.

"Work is underway at Maku Power Plant Project in the eponymous trade zone in West Azarbaijan Province as well as Qeshm 2 and Bandar Abbas power plants in Hormozgan Province and Lamerd in Fars Province," he said.