Strong power-industry related reforms were implemented in Azerbaijan in the first quarter of this year. A new structure, Azerishig OJSC, has been created on the base of Bakielektrikshebeke OJSC. Addressing the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on April 10 and dedicated to the social-economic development in the first quarter of 2015 and impending tasks, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev noted that “the major objective is to bring power supply level in the regions to conformity with that of Baku”. It is a major goal as in recent years Bakielektrikshebeke has been carrying out a very successful activity in Baku”, President of Azerbaijan said.
“The current state of power supply in the regions is unfavorable indeed. Though we have built big generating capacities and power plants. The energy potential we created in recent years is much higher than the one that used to be throughout the whole Soviet period. It would be impossible to achieve our current economic and industrial development without this potential. In other words, we focused attention on this area in order to build new generating capacities. There are both alternative hydro power plants and major gas power plants built in Azerbaijan. However, the performance of the electricity transmission lines is not that good, particularly in regional and rural areas. Such state of things is unacceptable for Azerbaijan. Seeing that there is no use from administrative measures we made decision to shift to structural reforms. I am confident that Azerishig will pretty soon bring the power supply level in all our cities and regions to conformity with that of Baku. It is a very hard work. We need to make big efforts now”, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.
Regions – installation of new Packaged Transformer Substations
Without waiting for the completion of the acceptance and delivery process, Azerishig OJSC created in accordance with the order of President Ilham Aliyev has started exploring the state of the power supply in the regions. The work on eliminating of existing unavoidable problems has been commenced in order to ensure stable power supply to consumers. Executive and designated employees of the OJSC conducted monitoring and on-site evaluation round the clock in order to speed the work.
In order to successfully handle the tasks assigned by the head of state of Azerbaijan, Azerishig OJSC has commenced the work on reconstruction and introduction of new technologies in the network, including training of high-skilled human resources. The plan of actions has been prepared promptly, which will help to have these operations performed. Technical supply base is created within the OJSC. The renewal of old packaged transformer substations (PTS) in all regional centers, villages and settlements of the country is underway. In other words, the work on replacement of worn out and outdated equipment with new advanced facilities has been launched. New facilities are different from the old ones both in terms of their technical specifications and exterior.
Moreover, modern PTS have broader technical and operational advantages. At the same time, old decayed wood poles are being replaced with new metal poles. Aluminum outdoor wires which were in operation for a long period and worn-out are replaced with self-supporting insulated wires. These measures which enhance the meeting of electricity needs of subscribers will lower normative technical losses and improve electric power metering. Before installing new PTS, the OJSC updates the quantity of subscribers of the area, considers prospects of the future development and chooses a power facility, taking future electricity needs into account.
Operations on installation of 35 kV substations are underway in regions of Azerbaijan. Performing operations even on holidays, Azerishig OJSC installed and commissioned tens of PTS in northern regions (Khyzy, Suyazan, Shabran, Guba, Gusar and Khachmaz). In general, the number of new PTS installed in the regions exceeded 50 units after a two-month work. New PTS will fully ensure reliable, safe and stable on-site electricity transmission. Azerishig OJSC has set the task to eliminate all existing problems within the shortest time period, apply modern techniques in power supply and provide consumers with reliable, safe and stable electricity as part of the instructions and errands of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. According to the order, the process of acceptance and delivery of facilities of Azerenerji OJSC was completed on April 10, 2015.
Capital
On February 9, 2015, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremonies of 110 kV electricity substations White City-1, Hazi Aslanov, Kurdakhany and 7 units of 35 kV substations built in Baku by Azerishig OJSC.
The three substations, managed by SCADA system, are equipped with new equipment, gas-insulated and vacuum facilities meeting the modern standards.
Outdated 35/6kV substations #19 and #35 were pulled down and with the purpose to ensure power supply of the Olympic Stadium new indoor substations linked to a double-circuit 35 kV cable line taking off from Zabrat (110/35/10 kV) substation were built and commissioned on their sites.
35 kV double-circuit cable lines were laid from substation #35 toward a 35 kV substation which is underconstruction at Olympic stadium. 110 kV double circuit cable lines have been built in order to link Hyrdalan, Mushfig and Nizami substations (220/110 kV) to one another.Meanwhile, 35/6kV substations # 208, 217, Keroglu and Olympic stadium were built to create a 35kV circular power supply scheme. 35kV double circuit cable lines were laid between substations. A 35kV network of 110 kV substations, fed by three separate 220kV networks, is supplying electricity to the Olympic Stadium. The athletes’ village is supplied with electricity through the similar scheme.
In order to ensure power supply of the Baku Aquatics Center, residential and entertainment facilities located in the direction of Bibi-Eybat, the capacity of 8 substations (20/6kV) located in this area has been increased up to 35kV. Besides, new indoor substations, based on modern design, have been built here.
20kV air transmission lines which link them to one another have been replaced with 35kV cable lines and 35kV substations. An old Bayil substation was pulled down and a new Yeni Bayil substation (110/35/10 kV) was built on its site.
35kV double circuit cable lines were laid and commissioned between 110kV Sangachal and 220/110kV Mushfig substations in order to ensure stable and safe power supply of the Aquatics Center and other industrial facilities around it.
Special groups have been created for providing of prompt service during the Olympic Games. These groups have received special transport vehicles.
Emergency service vehicles and other special transport facilities of Azerishig create all opportunities for a prompt work performance. These vehicles are to be broadly used during the first European games as well.
35/6 kV substations #80 and 88 underwent full reconstruction in order to ensure power supply of the Shooting Center. 35 kV overhead lines feeding these substations have been replaced with 35kV cable lines. At the same time, substations #92 and 94 (35/6kV), supplying electricity to one of the major parts of Binagadi and Bilajary settlements, underwent full reconstruction and have been connected with substation #80 via 35kV lines. It helped to create a circular power supply via two different 110kV substations. It is noteworthy that these substations have particular significance in improvement of power supply for the water supply system of the city as well as Bus terminal, Depot and Ajami stations of the Baku subway.
Substation #218 (35/10kV) has been built to improve power supply of Narimanov district, new office buildings, social and commercial facilities. Substation #218 will get electric power from substation #82 which in its turn is supplied by 110kV Darnagul substation and linked with 110kV substation #215 via 35 kV cable lines.
Indoor substation #81 (35/6kV) equipped with advanced technology has been built and commissioned to improve power supply of separate part of Binagadi district. A new 35/6 kV indoor substation #509 with the capacity of 2х25 MVA, equipped with advanced facilities, was built and commissioned instead of old 35/6kV substation #509. This substation will supply electricity to Lokbatan settlement of Garadagh district of Baku. Apart from this, a new administrative building was built for the operating division (110/35/20kV) of the Department for sale and power supply of Garadagh district. All necessary conditions have been created for employees.
The commissioning of new substations raised the capacity of the power grid by 9%. In General, the capability of the power grid to receive and distribute capacities have been increased by 105%, i.e. from 3,048 MVA up to 6,280 MVA.
