Alstom Grid wins 500 kV Substation Project using Gas-Insulated Technology to reinforce Tajikistans electricity network

Alstom Grid has been awarded a contract worth more than 30 million with the Tajikistan National Utility Barki Tajik, to design and deliver a 500 kV Switchyard Reconstruction Project to the Nurek Hydroelectric Power Plant (Nurek HPP) the first ever project to use 500 kV Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) technology in Central Asia. The project will be financed by a grant from Asian Development Bank.

Tajikistan is Central Asia's smallest country with mountains covering 93% of its territory. Due to a difficult geological environment the site of Nurek HPPs existing 500 kV Air-insulated substation (AIS) is at risk. The new Alstom Grid turnkey project will replace the 500 kV AIS and install a new 500 kV GIS solution on a more stable site in the area. The Alstom project will assure a safe and reliable electricity supply to support the countrys economic development. By optimizing the flow of energy from Nurek HPP across the grid, it will help to secure future energy sales revenue for Barki Tajik.

Nurek HPP is the largest hydropower station in Central Asia with an installed generation capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) and produces over 75% of Tajikistan's electricity. It is a multipurpose project comprising several functions including power generation, the frequency regulation of Central Asia networks and irrigation supply for downstream countries such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Tajikistan has enormous hydro power potential. Less than 10% of the nations hydroelectric energy resources have been developed, resources that could be producing 40 GW of energy. Making the most efficient use of these resources will be critical to meeting the growing electricity needs of Central and South Asia countries, as well as providing sustainable economic growth. 

Grégoire Poux Guillaume, Alstom Grid President declared: Alstom Grid has been working with Barki Tajik for over ten years, often on rehabilitation projects, essential to reinforcing and stabilizing the countrys power grid. The current project follows a 220 kV GIS 22.4 million replacement project already underway at Nurek HPP. Winning this latest contract at Nurek HPP will significantly reinforce Alstom Grids very committed presence in Central Asia.

Scope of work on this turnkey project includes: 500 kV GIS bays, 500 kV XPLE cables, civil works, Protection & Control Systems, Telecom Equipment and Fire Protection System. Commissioning is scheduled for January 2014.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world. It provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids.

The Group employs 92,700 people in 100 countries and had sales of 20.9 billion in 2010/11. 

Alstom Grid has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to its customers projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than 4 billion. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide.

At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chainfrom power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

Press contacts

 Aline Besselièvre: aline.besselievre@alstom.com / Tel: + 33 1 49 01 69 04      

Website www.alstom.com - www.alstom.com/grid