The first phase of Maku Combined-Cycle Power Plant in the eponymous free trade zone in West Azarbaijan Province started production on Thursday.
According to Samad Pashapour, the plant manager, "The initial phase, which adds 80MW to the national grid, is aimed at supplying six northwestern cities, namely Khoy, Qarah Zia-od-Din, Poldasht, Showt, Maku and Chaldoran," Young Journalists Club (YJC) reported.
"With an estimated cost of $152 million, output from the first phase is planned to increase up to 200 MW by 2020 and reach 300 MW a year later," he sai.
A combined-cycle power plant uses both gas and steam turbines to produce up to 50% more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine is routed to the nearby steam turbine, which generates extra power.
According to Pashapour, "The mega project is under construction in four phases covering 40,000 square meters and should come on stream fully by 2025 with an estimated investment of $1 billion."
The plant is being built by the International Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and domestic contractors.
Based on an agreement signed in 2015 between Maku Free Trade Zone and AVIC, the Chinese company took over 70% stake in the plant.
The gradual synchronization of the four phases will add 1,600 MW of electricity to the national grid and help augment stability of power transmission in northwest Maku, which is the country's largest free trade zone yet.
Iran needs to generate power at extra speed to meet rising demand and increase supplies to neighbors as part of a scheme to establish a regional power network. Electricity demand reached an all-time high of 56,500 megawatts last Tuesday. This is while the real and upsetting heatwaves are yet to come.
It is reported that steps have been taken to gradually convert the conventional gas-powered plants into efficient combined-cycle units. Close to 12,000 MW are produced from hydroelectric plants and 1,000 MW from the sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr in the south.
--- Electricity Exports
Pashapour said, "The plant could also be used as a source of exporting electricity to the neighbors, including Turkey."
Iran is the largest exporter and importer of electricity in the Middle East and exports power to Armenia, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan and Armenia supply electricity to Iran under a swap agreement.
The country's electricity industry ranks 14th in the world and first in the Middle East in terms of power generation with an installed capacity of 80,000 MW.
Almost 62,000 MW, or 77% of the country's output, is generated from thermal plants that burn fossil fuels.
Among other major projects are the Qeshm 2 and Bandar Abbas power plants in Hormozgan Province and Lamerd in Fars Province.
