The operations for constructing a steam cycle at Semnan Power Plant began on August 12, 2023.
The ground for the project was broken in a ceremony attended by Abbas Aliabadi, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, at the site of Semnan Power Plant located 10 km from Semnan on the road to Damghan.
Addressing the ceremony MAPNA Group President Mohammed Owliya pointed to the history of the power plant, noting that the first two gas units were upgraded to more efficient turbines of MGT-70 type while the next two gas units (Phase II) also used the same turbine. “These four units have higher efficiency than the conventional gas cycle,” he said.
He hoped that the combined cycle project would get proper funding so that it can be completed in the next two years.
Also addressing the event, Aliabadi appreciated the efforts of all those involved in the project.
Turning simple-cycle plants to combined-cycle ones brings considerable revenue to the country, he said.
Describing the investment in the country’s power industry as “significant,” the minister stressed that the huge network in this industry is the result of the work of domestic experts.
Phase I and II: Brief history
The first phase of Semnan Power Plant comprised two gas units with a capacity of 162 MW each (324 MW in total) at ISO conditions.
MANPA MD-1 Company started construction operations of the power plant’s first phase on January 15, 2009, and the first unit of the power plant was synchronized to the grid on December 25, 2010, about two years after the launch of the project.
The contract for the development of Phase II was signed between MAPNA Group and Mines and Metals Development Investment Company (MMDIC) on December 20, 2021.
The EPC deal stipulates the design, engineering, procurement, installation, and commissioning of two advanced gas units equipped with MAPNA’s own E-Class MGT-70(3) gas turbines with a nominal capacity of 366 MW at ISO conditions.
The conglomerate managed to synchronize the first gas unit of phase II of Semnan Power Plant to the national grid only 120 days after its initiation, setting a new record in the country.
This was the first unit of the grand plan to supply 10,000 MW to the country’s industrial section.
Saman Semnan Power Generation Company is the client of the project and MAPNA Power Plants Construction & Development Company (MD-1) is the contractor. The project achieved several other milestones as it took 27 days from the start of installing LCC to connecting power to DCS, the water flushing was completed in 19 days, the oil flushing to turning gear was done in 6 days, the IO check to turning gear was performed in 4 days, and the synchronization of the unit was attained in 8 days from the power connection to the transformer.