President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov has approved a proposal to build in our country a second power plant with a capacity of 1574 MW with combined cycle gas cycle.  The proposal to build it on the territory of the Balkan velayat was announced at a government meeting last Friday by Vice-Chairman Baymurad Annamammedov.

 As noted, the creation of a new power plant is provided for by the Investment Program of Turkmenistan for 2023 and is aimed at meeting the country's growing needs for electricity and the constantly rising demand for it from importing states.

 After listening to the report, the President emphasized the importance of the tasks set for the energy industry to ensure uninterrupted power supply to domestic consumers, as well as to increase the routes and volumes of export supplies of electricity.

 Having approved the proposal to build a new combined cycle power plant, the head of state instructed the Vice-Chairman to continue work to strengthen the material and technical base of the key sector of the national economy and further increase its production potential.

 The first combined cycle power plant in Turkmenistan with an annual capacity of 1,574 MW was built in Mary region and put into operation in September 2018.  There are 4 gas turbines of the General Electric company (USA), with a capacity of 263.5 MW each, and two steam turbines of 260 MW each.

 Incidentally, it should be recalled that the first combined-cycle power plant in Turkmenistan was recognized as the largest in Central Asia.

 Compared to a simple cycle power plant, which has a coefficient of performance (COP) of about 34%, with a combined cycle, the efficiency increases by more than 1.5 times and is over 56%.  In addition, the consumption of natural gas used as fuel is significantly reduced.

 Combined-cycle power plants also have advantages in environmental terms – the amount of emissions into the atmosphere of combustion products – carbon dioxide – is reduced by 2-3 times.

 Currently, Turkmen electricity is supplied to neighboring countries – Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.  In the future, it is planned to increase the export of electricity by deliveries through Uzbekistan and Iran to third countries.