PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV’S TRIP TO ASTARA REGION
The foundation of the plant was laid also in the presence of the President on 8 September 2005. Major contractors of the project are the companies Wartsila of Finland and ABB of Switzerland.
The power plant covering the area of 51 hectares includes ten 8.7-megawatt capacity generators, auxiliary substation with 25-megawatt transformers, helipad, two-storey office block, a 1-hectare pool and 20-hectares garden with 5 thousand planted trees and shrubbery. A 2 km long 110 kV power transmission and 1.2. km long gas lines, as well as two 900 m long canals to direct waters away from the plant’s area were laid, and 2 bridges were constructed here. The project involved 500 builders and riggers, of whom 300 were locals. The Astara power plant will allow eliminating winter energy shortage in the southern region of Azerbaijan and employ 10 thousand people on a permanent basis.
President Ilham Aliyev familiarized himself with the modern equipment installed here, and then pressed the button symbolizing the start-up of the plant thereby connecting it to the general power grid.
After that President Ilham Aliyev conversed with local and foreign specialists involved in the construction of the plant. He thanked them for finishing the project so soon. In turn, ABB Vice-President Bruno Berggren thanked the Azerbaijani leader for the favorable conditions created for them and the assistance rendered during construction activities. He also praised the local specialist’s job especially noting that no such a plant had been elsewhere constructed by ABB. Mr. Berggren added that construction of the plant in such a short period of time is a result of collaboration between the foreign companies and local specialist. “We are proud of our work,” he said.
Afterwards, a solemn opining ceremony of the Astara power plant took place.
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