2nd steam unit becomes operational at Asaluyeh combined-cycle power plant

Tehran, IRNA – The second steam unit at the Asaluyeh combined-cycle power plant has become operational to add 160 megawatts to the capacity of Iran's power generation, an Iranian official said. According to the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company, Caretaker of the Development Department of the company Mohammad Ramazani said on Monday that at this moment of time, the Asaluyeh power plant consists of six gas units and two steam units to produce 1,300 megawatts. He went on to say that the finalization of the combined-cycle power plant increases the total capacity of the Asalulyeh power plant to around 1,500 megawatts. The official also noted that some 19 power plant units have become operational in the current Iranian calendar year (starting March 21). The construction of every steam unit helps save 270 million cubic meters of fuel consumption annually and increase efficiency from 32% to 47%, he added. Pointing to the aim of setting up the steam unit, Ramazani noted that it will pave the way for generating more electricity and meet the demands. The process of turning a simple gas-based cycle into a combined-cycle power plant would be translated into an increase of capacity for power generation without any need for more fuel consumption, which would have economic advantages, especially when it comes to saving money in this respect as well as environmental benefits because this method will help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. According to the timetable, the second unit of an average-size power plant in Zahedan, the capital city of Sistan-Baluchestan Province, as well as a 183-megawatt-gas unit of Rashed combined-cycle power plant in Torbat-e Heydarieh, Razavi Khorasan Province, are going to become operational in the coming days, the official noted. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish