Turkmenistan to build second combined-cycle power plant

ASHGABAT. March 13 (Interfax) - Turkmenistan's investment program for 2023 calls for the construction of a second combined-cycle power plant with capacity of 1,574 MW.

The plans to build the gas and steam power plant in the Balkan Velayat region were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Baymyrat Annamammedov at a government meeting at the end of last week, Turkmenistan's state news agency reported. The project is intended to meet the country's growing electricity needs and constantly increasing demand from importing countries.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov approved the proposal, noting the importance of ensuring uninterrupted power supplies to domestic consumers, as well as expanding the volume and routes of Turkmenistan's electricity exports.

Turkmenistan first combined-cycle power plant, with capacity of 1,574 MW, opened on the territory of Mary hydropower plant in September 2018. Four gas turbines from U.S. company General Electric with capacity of 263.5 MW each, as well as two 260-MW steam turbines were installed at the plant, which was built by GE and Calik Enerji under a contract with Turkmenenergo.

Turkmenistan currently exports electricity to Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and it has plans to increase exports through Uzbekistan and Iran to third countries. The country planned to increase exports to 9 billion kWh in 2022, but actual export figures have not been released.

Turkmenistan now has 12 power plants with combined capacity of 6,943.2 MW. They have 51 turbines, including 39 gas and 12 steam.

The Turkmen president's socioeconomic development program for 2022-2028 calls for bringing electricity production up to 37.5 billion kWh in 2028, which would be a 22.5% increase over 2022.