One of the projects was Soffeh 230/63/20 kV gas-insulated substation in Isfahan City, constructed on 10,000 square meters of land and cost $13.8 million, the Energy Ministry news portal Paven reported.
The substation will supply electricity to the southern regions in Isfahan and help increase stability of the local power grid that supplies electricity to 2 million people.
A GIS is a high voltage substation in which the major structure is sealed with sulfur hexafluoride gas as the insulating medium. It is mostly used where space is expensive or not available, Financial Tribune reported.
In a GIS, the active parts including transformers and feeders are protected from corrosion emanating from exposure to atmospheric air, moisture, contamination and sand.
Gas insulated substations offer other advantages in addition to the reduced space requirement. As a substation is enclosed in a building, a GIS is less sensitive to pollution, as well as salt, sand or large amounts of snow. Although the initial cost of putting up a GIS is higher than building an air-insulated substation, operation and maintenance costs of a GIS are lower.
Another project inaugurated by Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian was the Hatef 400/63 kV substation in Kuhpayeh City, which was completed in four years and cost $24.6 million.
Constructed on 25 hectares and funded by the Islamic Development Bank, it will augment network stability, improve voltage in east of Isfahan and supply electricity to industrial regions and new consumers.
Moreover, 18 other substations in other cities and towns in the province costing $66 million were launched at the weekend.
“We can now produce all the equipment required for substations and power transmission,” the minister said, adding that in addition to supplying local industries, the equipment is also exported.
Priority Issues
Eight water projects worth about $54 million were inaugurated in Isfahan Province.
Safe drinking water is now available in Golshahr City in Golpayegan County, Barzavand rural district in Ardestan County and Baharestan rural district in Nain County.
Ardakanian said water supply to rural areas remains a priority of his ministry and last week 60 villages were connected to the water distribution network.
“In the past six years, more than 9,500 villages across the country, covering 6.5 million people, have been connected to the water network,” the minister was quoted as saying.
He estimated that by the next two years over 9 million people in 13,000 villages will have access to potable water.
Khansar Wastewater Treatment Plant was launched at the weekend covering a population of over 32,000 people in Khansar County.
So far, 40 kilometers of sewage network has been installed in Khansar and another 110 km will be added in the next two years.
Costing $1.5 million it is the 221st wastewater treatment plant in the country.
Located in the arid regions Isfahan Province has been struggling with drought for several years.
Refined wastewater is the most important source of water, especially for industries, the minister noted.
The Energy Ministry has 207 power, water and wastewater projects worth $670 million underway across the central province.