The course on modernization of Turkmenistan's economy in accordance with the most modern international standards has been increasingly characterized by the efficient application of cutting-edge technologies, as demonstrated by the launch of two new flagships of the Turkmen industry last September alone.
A combined-cycle power plant, first in the Central Asian region, was put into operation in Mary province at an official ceremony attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The power plant with the total capacity of 1547 MW has four gas turbines with the capacity of 263.25 MW each and two steam turbines with the capacity of 260.5 MW each manufactured by the US General Electric.
The modern combined-cycle method used at the new power plant ensures that gases generated by fuel combustion first activate a central gas turbine and then go to a special steam-recovery boiler. There, these gases heat the water and turn it into steam that, in turn, is fed into a steam turbine under high pressure. This is how extra volumes of electricity are generated.
As a result, compared to a simple cycle power plant's average 34.2 percent efficiency, a combined cycle increases the efficiency by more than one and a half to over 56 percent. In addition, consumption of natural gas, used as fuel, is reduced significantly. Steam-gas power plants are attractive not only in economical but also ecological terms, since emissions of combustion products - carbon dioxide - to the atmosphere is reduced by 2-3 times.
Supporting the efforts of the international community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Turkmenistan ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and steadily moves towards a "green economy", using modern environmentally friendly and resource-saving technologies in industry, including oil and gas, electricity and transport sectors.
The new power plant has secured uninterrupted electricity supplies to consumers. In addition, the volumes of hazardous emissions into the atmosphere will be reduced by 3.1 million tons annually. At the same time, it will help increase electricity exports to foreign countries up to 3 billion kilowatt-hours.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the country's first combined-cycle power plant erected at the Mary hydropower plant, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the plant would increase the reliability of electricity supplies to domestic consumers, as well as electricity exports. "The new modern power plant with unified management that we launch today has become evidence of the successful implementation of the Concept of the Power Generation Industry of Turkmenistan for 2013-2020," the head of state said.
By pressing a button in a solemn atmosphere, the President of Turkmenistan launched the new power plant. The ceremony participants watched a video film about the new facility. Then, they observed through the monitors how the power plant was reaching its design capacity.
The new power facility made it possible to significantly increase the supply of electricity to the country's overall energy system, create extra guarantees for reliable power supply to domestic consumers. In addition, it became possible to increase exports of Turkmen electricity to 3 billion kilowatt-hours.
The giant energy and economic potential of Turkmenistan is attracting more and more foreign companies that are willing to establish a mutually beneficial partnership. Innovations introduced in the industry, as well as huge underground reserves of natural gas, which is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly types of fuel for power plants, contribute to the efficient fulfilment of the tasks facing the strategic sector of the economy.
The new power plant was awarded a number of certificates from international organizations. For example, the President of Turkmenistan was presented with "Environmental Safety" certificate of the American Environmental Health Foundation, "High-Tech Power Facility" certificate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, "For Sustainability and Efficiency" certificate of the Max Planck Energy Institute.
The Garabogazcarbamide plant for production of urea fertilizers from natural gas was officially put into operation in the city of Garabogaz on the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the ceremony.
The bay of Garabogazgol is one of the few places on the planet where sodium sulfate and other valuable salt minerals crystallize on an industrial scale in natural conditions. The construction of a carbamide plant on the coast of the bay, whose bowels serve as the raw material base for the sulphate industry, is the next step in developing the country's diversified mineral industry.
A large-scale investment project was carried out together with foreign companies - Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan) and Gap Inaat atirim ve Di Ticaret A.. (Turkey). The plant employs the cutting-edge technologies. The technology provided by Danish company Haldor Topse ensures daily production of 2 thousand tons and annual production of 660 thousand tons of ammonia, which is used as the main raw material for production of concentrated solid nitrogen fertilizer - urea. There will be produced 3.500 thousand tons daily and 1.155 million tons annually of urea fertilizers that will be exported by sea. When this industrial facility reaches its design capacity, the volume of urea production will exceed 2 million tons.
The high-tech facility is operated by qualified specialists and professional workers. They underwent training abroad as well as at the branch of the Turkmenabat vocational school in the city of Garabogaz. A training center established at the plant will also ensure the further professional development of specialists for operation of innovative equipment, as well as training of newly hired personnel.
A port in the city of Garabogaz, which is the most important facility for shipments of urea to foreign countries, has been completely reconstructed to facilitate transportation of finished products. A three-kilometer conveyor system for transportation of finished products from the plant to the wharf has been erected. A pier in the city of Garabogaz for exports of urea by sea and river has been renovated. It is now capable of servicing two vessels at a time.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the value of the contract for construction of the plant exceeded USD 1.5 billion. The head of state stressed that the plant would annually process 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas to achieve the design parameters on production of carbamide fertilizers. According to the Turkmen leader, the plant with Danish, Italian, Dutch and U.S. technologies has no analogues in the region. The President of Turkmenistan also noted that 10 two-storey 40-apartment residential buildings with improved layout were built for the plant's employees as part of the project. In total, the plant has created 1000 new jobs.
As part of the ceremony, the plant's management was awarded the Certificate of Recognition of the use of innovative technologies from the German Julius-Khn Institute; the Certificate of Recognition of this project as one of the most efficient and environmentally sustainable from the German Tnen Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries and Organic Farming; as well as the Certificate of Recognition of high quality products from the International Scientific Center for Fertilizers (CIEC).
At the end of the ceremony, the President of Turkmenistan left an entry in the book of honored guests in memory of this event and handed the keys to the new service vehicles to the plant's management. In conclusion, the head of state viewed the seaport where the plant's finished products would be loaded onto ships for exports.