Birmek was engaged for the installation of mechanical equipment for the Zerger gas-fired power project. Image courtesy of Birmek.
Turkmenenergo is developing the 432MW Zerger gas-fired power project in the Lebap province of Turkmenistan. Image courtesy of Birmek.
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) is the supplier of gas turbines and generators for the Zerger gas-fired power project. Image courtesy of Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems.

The Zerger power project is a 432MW gas-fired simple-cycle power generation facility under construction in the Lebap province of Turkmenistan.

Turkmen State Power Corporation “Turkmenenergo” is the owner and developer of the project.

The civil construction works for the project were started in 2016 with the plant commissioning expected by August 2021.

The Zerger power project in Turkmenistan will be a major aid in the reconstruction of the neighbouring country Afghanistan that incurred damage due to the prolonged civil war. The power station is intended to export low-cost gas-fired electricity and help strengthen the bond with other neighbouring countries.

Location and site details

The Zerger gas-fired simple cycle power project is located in the Serdarabad district, Lebap Province, Turkmenistan, approximately 600km northeast of the capital city Ashgabat.

The project site lies in the arid area, next to the existing 150MW Lebap power plant. It is situated near the Uzbekistan border and approximately 260km southeast of the Afghanistan border.

Zerger power plant make-up

The Zerger gas-fired power plant will be equipped with three 144MW M701DA gas turbines and generators along with the auxiliary equipment.

The other project components include a 220Kv/110kV switchyard with 15 and 25 feeders, automated gas reduction station along with a gas pipe connecting the power plant,  instrument air and nitrogen unit, a boiler unit, a cooling system with fan coolers, exhaust stack, transformers, medium voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) switchgear, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and communication system, distribution and control systems, emergency diesel generators, electrical building, a fire pump house, along with other balance of plant (BOP) facilities.

The control and instrumentation equipment includes CENTUM™ VP integrated production control system, DPharp EJA™ series differential pressure transmitters, and YTA610 temperature transmitters from Yokogawa.

The other infrastructure facilities at the project site include water pipelines, a water retention pond, camps, workshops, and an access road from the highway to the plant site.

Power evacuation

The electricity generated by the Zerger gas-fired simple cycle power plant will be evacuated through a 220kV power transmission line.

The power evacuation line will be connected to the Turkmenenergo power grid through a new 110kV/ 220kV substation.

Power purchase agreement

The Government of Afghanistan signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Turkmenistan Government in September 2015 for importing electricity from Turkmenistan for a period of ten years.

Finance

The Zerger gas-fired simple cycle power project is being financed by a syndicate of Japanese banks and it will be insured by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI).

Contractors involved

Sumitomo Corporation signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract worth £195.80m ($300m) for the development of the Zerger power plant in October 2015. Renaissance Heavy Industries is also engaged in construction activities.

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) was selected by Sumitomo Corporation for the manufacturing and supply of three sets of M701 DA gas turbine and generator for the project in March 2016.

Yokogawa Turkey Industrial Automation Solutions, a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, was placed an order by Renaissance Heavy Industries in March 2020 for the supply of control systems and field instruments.

Elektrakom was subcontracted by Renaissance Heavy Industries for the design and engineering of the distributed control system (DCS), as well as its installation, testing, and commissioning in 2019.

Sistronik Sistem has been engaged in the electrification and instrumentation works, while Birmek has been engaged in the assembly works.

China-based Cimtas Ningbo carried out the gas turbine piping work with jig assemblies and modules for the project.

Fichtner consultancy services prepared the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the project.

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