OREANDA-NEWS. September 04, 2013. The machinery was supplied as part of the joint model project by the Uzbekenergo SSC and Japan-based Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc, under the coordination of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of a number of ministries and other agencies of the two nations, foreign manufacturers and domestic producers, contractor and construction and mounting organizations directly connected to the materialization of the scheme.
The Uzbekenergo SSC Chairman of Board Iskandar Basitov, Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to our country Fumihiko Kato and other speakers at the event underlined the steadfast development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan, which is founded on the robust normative base made up by agreements reached during meetings of the heads of our two states. President Islam Karimov’s official visit to Japan in February 2011 facilitated the elevation of the two nations’ interaction to a qualitatively new level.

It is noteworthy that the bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and Japan cover a wide range of cooperation areas, including diplomatic, trade-economic, socio-humanitarian and cultural ties. Owing to the financial and technical assistance by Japan, socially important and infrastructure projects are being realized in Uzbekistan in healthcare, education, energy, transport and telecommunications sectors.

Such close interaction is built on the Joint Declaration on Friendship, Strategic Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan, signed in 2002 during the official visit of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov to Japan. Another incentive for shoring up the Uzbek-Japanese economic relations has been the agreements on trade and economic interaction, mutual protection and stimulation of investments. The Uzbekistan-Japan and the Japan-Uzbekistan committees for economic cooperation have been instrumental in enhancing the bilateral ties.

Trade turnover between our two nations has been growing dynamically every year. Notably, more than ten Uzbek-Japan enterprises and representative offices of 14 Japanese companies operate currently in Uzbekistan. The spheres of their activities encompass transport services, tourism, healthcare, mechanical engineering, metalworking production, export-import operations, light industry, supply of equipment as part of investment schemes.

During talks between the leaders of our two states, issues concerning the establishment of cooperation with NEDO were addressed. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the government of Uzbekistan and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). On 4 February 2010, President Islam Karimov issued a resolution “On Measures for the Implementation of the Project to Introduce Cogeneration Gas-Turbine Technology at the Tashkent Heat and Power Plant Open Stock Company”.

This suggests that the technical and technological renewal of the basic segment of the manufacturing sector, namely, the power industry, is an important element of the economic reforms being undertaken on the initiative of the head of our state. The investment projects being run in this area are directed at the further development of the energy capacities of our nation, at the modernization of industrial enterprises, introduction of resource-saving technologies, provision for a reliable and quality supply of consumers with electric and heating energy.

A bright confirmation to this argument is the project designed to introduce cogeneration gas-turbine technology at the Tashkent Heat and Power Plant (HPP), one of the leading suppliers of power and heat for housing and communal services sector and manufacturing enterprises of the capital city. This major and unique scheme envisages the construction of a 27.15-megawatt-capacity gas turbine outfitted with a generator and a steam utilizing boiler with production capacity of 47 tph. The introduction of modern technology of energy production on the base of gas-turbine facility allows for increasing the power generation, bolstering the reliability and efficiency of work of the Tashkent HPP, securing the guaranteed power supply to the residents of the capital.

As a result of commissioning the gas-turbine block, the power generation is going to increase by 228 million kilowatt-hours, which will allow for bringing the sum production of electric energy at Tashkent HPP up to 400 kilowatt-hours a year. The fuel saved in this context will be around 39 million cubic meters of natural gas per annum.

Foreign specialists have given a high appraisal to the successful realization of the model project in Uzbekistan, to the quality of organization of works on all phases of its implementation, as well as the intention for the further execution of joint investment projects and consolidation of cooperation between Uzbek and Japanese companies.

“We have been able to succeed in the completion of this model scheme jointly with Uzbek partners,” says Kazuo Furukawa, Chairman of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). “We express sincere gratitude to all specialists who have made this project possible. I would like to note in particular that Japan and Uzbekistan have a considerable expertise in economic and cultural cooperation. NEDO has been in the business of power saving projects for more than thirty years, and this venture is one of NEDO’s major schemes to date. This environmentally clean facility will not only raise the energy efficiency of the country, but also facilitate its saving. We hope that this scheme will help – along with the further development of Uzbekistan’s economy – boost the uninterrupted supply of electric power to the population.”

The undertaking has been realized for the funds of Uzbekenergo SSC, as well as grants of technical assistance worth 38 million US dollars provided by NEDO. The distinctive feature of the project is the cogeneration technology of joint production of electric and heat energy novel to the power industry of our country. It is ecologically harmless and safe, and meets the highest international standards.

The materialization of the model project benefited also from the participation of leading Japanese companies specializing in the construction of energy facilities and production of hi-tech equipment. Notably, the prime contractor and construction designer from the Japanese side has been the engineering company Tohoku Electric Power Co. Inc. – one of Japan’s major firms in building and commissioning energy facilities.

“We are infinitely thankful to our Uzbek partners for setting in motion their every effort and ability to make this project achievable,” noted Tomonori Inagaki, executive director, member of Board of Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. “This undertaking is of special importance to our company. The new technology is significant with its capability of stable provision of the population of Tashkent with electric power.”

The principal and auxiliary technological equipment that includes a gas turbine, a diesel generator and reduction gear, is manufactured and delivered by Hitachi, one of the world’s major multi-purpose corporations in the production of electric-technical and energy equipment. The gas compressor was supplied by the company KOBELCO, a leading Japanese producer of compressor machinery.

Notwithstanding the fact that the cogeneration technology at the base of gas-turbine unit is novel to Uzbekistan, the project was complete within record brief time frames. It took as little as 29 months for all the construction works to be finished and in strict adherence to requirements of Japanese standards. The construction has included the erection of main foundations of the gas-turbine unit, the utilizing boiler, as well as the installation of principal equipment.

In March 2013, specialists started works to test the installed equipment, which were completed in May this year. The commissioning and the launch process of the gas-turbine unit also engaged the specialists of Uzbek companies NP ESAN and ORGRES as well as the South Korean DKME. The well coordinated and highly professional joint work of Uzbek and foreign specialists has allowed for the conduct of a trial launch of the turbine on idle pass under a 20-percent workload on 1 July 2013. And the initial power energy from the gas-turbine unit to the united energy system of Uzbekistan was delivered as soon as July 28 of the current year.

The gas-turbine units have a range of advantages in that they are distinct with simplicity and complete automation. They are more compact and offer a high maneuverability. Transition to new power saving technologies is going to help raise the efficiency in the use of fuel, leading to the improvement of environmental situation around the Tashkent HPP owing to the reduction of rate emission of polluted substances per produced capacity unit.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ghulomjon Ibragimov delivered a speech at the ceremony.