Installed Power Capacity at 83 Gigawatts

Deputy Energy Minister Homayoun Haerisaid this at a ceremony to inaugurate the first phase of Khorramabad Combined Cycle Power Plant in Lorestan Province on Tuesday, the Energy Ministry news portal reported.

“Costing $100 million, the 162 MW plant consists of two gas units,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.

Regarding the second phase, he said the steam units are expected to become operational in 2021 in which case the plant’s capacity will rise 66% (484 MW).

Saba Power and Energy Group started construction of the plant in 2017. At least $500 million is needed to complete the second phase that should contribute to industrial development programs in the region.

In addition to the plant, a power transmission line stretching 12 kilometers was laid to connect the station to the national grid.

“Close to $3.5 billion has been invested in power plants since 2017 and at least 2 gigawatts has been added to the total installed capacity in the last three years,” he said.

Founded in 2004 as the first privately-funded company, Saba Power and Energy Group is involved in the construction and operation of power plants.

So far it owns five power plants producing 3,500 MW and is in charge of operation and maintenance of seven thermal plants with a total capacity of 5,100 MW.

New Capacity

In related news, Mohsen Tarztalab, head of Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, said that almost 1,100 MW is expected to be added to the national grid next year.

Work is in progress at the Maku Power Plant in the eponymous trade zone in West Azarbaijan Province as well as the Qeshm 2 and Bandar Abbas power plants in Hormozgan Province and Lamerd in Fars Province.

Pointing to development plans underway, he said TPPHC is constructing 7,000 MW of gas-powered units in Sabalan, Kashan, Urmia, Chabahar and the Asalouyeh combined cycle power plants.

Thermal power plants accounted for 90% of total electricity output in the past 10 months. There are 123 thermal plants in the country.

Giving a breakdown of total power capacity at 83 gigawatts, Tarztalab said the thermal units, which either use steam turbines, combined-cycle or gas-powered, account for 66 GW.

"Steam, gas and combined-cycle units account for 16 GW, 27 GW and 23 GW of the thermal stations, respectively."

Power Output in Isfahan

According to Amir Narimani, head of Isfahan Power Generation Company, electricity output in Eslamabad power plant close to Isfahan has surpassed 2.8 billion kilowatt since March 2019, showing a 17% rise compared to 2018.

Because of the proximity to Isfahan, the plant was among one of the stations that did not use mazut as feedstock in January and February when gas supply to plants was restricted.

In the period, gas consumption in the household sector exceeded 600 million cubic meters per day due to the cold spell.

Most thermal power plants are natural-gas based and feeding them liquefied fuels (except in emergency cases) will have long-term adverse effects like damaging not only machinery and parts but also the environment.

When fossil fuel is burned, it releases CO2, nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulphur oxide (SOX) into the atmosphere, which contribute to smog and acid rain.

TPPHC has decreased CO2 emissions by 15% over the past eight years. Moreover, gas-fired power stations are being equipped with NOX control technology that curbs pollution by up to 50%.