/By Azernews/

By Nigar Abbasova

Large scale project in power industry will be launched in Azerbaijan later this year.

Azerenergy, the country's sole power producer, is planning to commission the second combined cycle power unit on Shimal TPP in the second half of 2016, Trend reports. Construction of the power unit is practically complete.

“We have faced several difficulties but left them behind, currently all activities are running in accordance with the planned procedures. The power unit is expected to launch in the second half of the current year,” a source said.

Capacity of the second combined cycle power unit on Shimal TPP is expected to reach 409 megawatt.

For now, the power plant meets one forth of energy demand of Baku and Absheron peninsula. After the construction of the second power unit the figure will reach 35-40 percent. Construction of the second power plant is carried out in accordance with the agreement signed with Japan Toyo Engineering company. Currently one combined-cycle gas plant with the capacity of 400 megawatt is functioning in Shimal power plant.

Azerbaijan holds an electrical power system with the generation capacity of 7,129 megawatt, enabling to produce about 24 billion kilowatt of electricity a year. That empowers the country to export 2.1 billion kilowatt of energy annually.

Azerenergy is taking the leader position for the number and length of distribution networks in the country.