OREANDA-NEWS. September 13, 2010. One of the major tasks being fulfilled on the initiative of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is to guarantee the high life quality and favourable working conditions to citizens of Turkmenistan. Turkmen power engineers make a worthy contribution to fulfilling this task.

Through accelerated modernization and diversification of the economy in the epoch of new Revival the conditions enabling the strategic sectors of Turkmen economy including the power industry to a make a breakthrough are created in Turkmenistan. Today, Turkmen power industry demonstrates steady progress and the potential to enhance exports of electric power that is in great demand in world markets. The potential of the sector enhanced many times due to the construction of power plants and power transmission lines built in different regions of our country in a short period of time enable to meet the needs for electric power of domestic consumers as well as export Turkmen electric power to Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan.

In this regard some figures should be mentioned. In eight months of 2010 Turkmenistan produced 10.506 billion Kilowatt-hours that is 5% above the plan. 1.157,1 million Kilowatt-hours were exported. 1.4 billion Kilowatt-hours were supplied free of charge to the population. In January-August, 2010, the increase in output of goods, works and services rendered by the Ministry of Energy and Industry made up 119% of that planned.

The large-scale projects aimed at further modernization and construction of new gas-turbine power stations, modernization of power supply and lighting systems in Ashgabat and other towns and settlements throughout the country have been launched in the domestic power industry, new power transmission lines are laid, dozens of distribution substations are under construction. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov says that a major task set Turkmen power engineers is to apply advanced technologies and reliable, state-of-the-art equipment and materials when implementing energy projects.

The short-range tasks set to the domestic power industry by the Turkmen leader involve the construction of the gas-turbine power station with the capacity of 254 megawatt in Zerger settlement, Lebap Velayat, laying of energy transmissions lines on the Ashgabat-Balkanabat-Turkmenbashi section in particular, construction of new transformer substations and reconstruction of existing ones. The measures aimed at increasing the volume of electric power exports include reconstruction of the power units at the Mary State Power Stations and the laying of 500-kV transmission line from the Mary power plant towards the Turkmen-Afghan border, the 400-kV Mary-Serahs transmission line towards the Turkmen-Iranian border and transmission lines from the Balkanabat State Power Station. The promising routes of electric power supplies from Turkmenistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan and to Pakistan via Afghanistan take real shape.

The integrated power system of present-day Turkmenistan that completely satisfies the domestic electric power needs and exports electric power to foreign countries, includes the Mary power plant, the leading power plant in the country that has considerably increased its production capabilities in recent years, and a number of new electric power stations with new-generation facilities put into operation in Ashgabat, Ahal, Balkanabat, Lebap, Dashoguz and in the Avaza national tourism zone.

The construction of new thermal power stations, which have high and ultrahigh performance parameters, gave an opportunity to identify and apply most optimal operation conditions for power generating units and the Turkmen power system as well. Furthermore, the accelerated pace of development of the power industry in Turkmenistan enabled to remove low-powered, obsolete power facilities of service.

In Turkmenistan the power stations consume natural gas that is cheaper in local conditions. Natural gas is supplied from the nearest gas fields, and if necessary, fuel oil and diesel fuel supplied from local oil refineries are used as reserve fuel.

Putting new power generating units into operation makes it possible not only to satisfy the growing needs in the country but also enhance electric power exports to neighbouring countries. The energy potential of Turkmenistan is to increase its export supplies via existing and planned routes. In accordance with the 2011-2030 National Social and Economic Development Programme electric power production in the country will increase to 25.5 billion Kilowatt-hours a year and the volume of electric power exports will raise to over 11 billion Kilowatt-hours a year.

In this regard the strategic project such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline should be mentioned. As the transnational gas pipelines is constructed, power transmission lines will be laid along its route that will supply electric power to all infrastructure facilities of this transnational gas pipeline as well as be an opportunity to export it to transit and neighbouring countries.

The top priority tasks set to Turkmen power engineers include increasing the reliability of electric power supply to Ashgabat. Under the project high-voltage transmission lines will encircle the Turkmen capital. Also, dozens of new substations and hundreds of distribution transformers will be constructed in the city, hundreds of kilometers of cable power transmission lines will be laid. New outdoor power centres will help to light up city streets. New distribution boards connected with new cable power transmission lines will be installed in all houses.

Thus, this large-scale project will enable to renew the power supply network in Ashgabat that will ensure reliable and uninterrupted electric power supply to the rapidly expanding Turkmen capital for many decades to come.

Today, the power sector in Turkmenistan is strong as never before – the huge energy and economic potential of our country that pursues the policy of wide international cooperation attracts more foreign companies and firms willing to establish mutually beneficial partnership with our country.

Consistently implementing the large-scale international energy projects, Turkmenistan demonstrates a very responsible approach to international cooperation in this sector.

“I firmly believe that once a clear aim is set and the route to it is developed rigorously, success is ensured. Independent neutral Turkmenistan illustrates this by the practice of its progress. The country as if a fairytale giant pushed by vigour and optimism of its people oversteps barriers and difficulties,” President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov writes in his article “Economic strategy of Turkmenistan: relying on people, in the name of people”.

On the Power Engineers’ Day the great idea of the Turkmen leader, by whose efforts, vigour and willpower the country measures the way it advances along with rapid strides in the epoch of new Revival and great changes, is embodied vividly and clearly in real deeds and constructions.