The plan to overhaul thermal power plants and boost electricity production, which started in August, is on track and will be complete by May 2022, a spokesman for the Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir) said.
“Domestic firms, including Iran Power Plant Repair Company, are carrying out the annual maintenance work at 129 power stations that annually produce about 69,000 megawatts,” Mostafa Rajabi Mashhadi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
“Good progress has been made in the power sector and international companies' unwillingness to cooperate with Iran Thermal Power Plants Holding Company will not impede operations for the upkeep of power stations,” he added.
Rajabi noted that repair and maintenance of thermal power plants, estimated to cost at least $700 million, can add up to 2 gigawatts to the total output.
Nonetheless, he said that in addition to feeding the power stations with liquefied fuel (mazut) instead of natural gas in winter, the coronavirus spread may result in a delay, as operations have to be carried out with regular interruptions and progress is likely to be slower compared to the past.
TPPHC oversees dozens of fossil fuel power plants with an installed capacity of over 69,000 MW, which meet the bulk of Iran's electricity demand. It also 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 South Tehran.
According to Einollah Salehi, IPPRC managing director, two decades ago, even the installation of turbine blades was monopolized by foreign companies, but Iran is currently self-reliant in the construction of blades and compressors.
Most of the equipment used in thermal power plants have been indigenized. Local companies manufacture about 1,000 components for power stations approved by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran.
Salehi said a major part of the overhaul of power plants in Iraq and a part of equipment repairs in Turkey are being carried out by Iranian engineers.
“Iran's power consumption on average rises by 8% and production capacity doubles every 10 years. Workforce needed for the overhaul ought to increase in line with the rise in power consumption and production,” he added.
Reducing power wastage in the production, transfer and distribution networks, in addition to enhancing the efficiency of power plants, is a primary goal of the Energy Ministry.
Over 60% of Iran's power are produced by private utility companies.
New Steam-Powered Units
Hamidreza Azimi, director of planning at TPPHC, said 10 steam-powered units with a capacity of 1,800 MW will become operational in 2022 in Bushehr, Fars, Tabriz, Urmia and Kermanshah power plants, IRNA reported.
“The new units are expected to help save 2.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year,” he added.
Azimi noted that three gas-fueled units with a capacity of 3,500 MW are under construction, without elaborating further.
According to the official, there are 129 thermal power stations in Iran, of which 69% are operated by the private sector.
“The total output of e thermal power plants has reached 69,000 MW, accounting for 85% of Iran’s total installed electricity output at 85,600 MW. Of the total thermal capacity, 31,000 MW, 22,000 MW and 16,000 MW are generated by combined-cycle, gas-powered and steam-powered units respectively,” Azimi said.
“Thermal power plants generated 183 billion kilowatt/hour of power between March 21 and Sept. 21, up 9% compared with the same period of a year ago.”
