Banias Power Plant Unit Commissioned
The first of two units, each of 165mw capacity, at the Banias power plant was recently put in operation, with the second one scheduled for start-up by end-June. A $63mn turnkey contract for the rehabilitation of the two units was awarded to Iran’s Azar Ab Energy Industries Development in early 2003, and ABB of Germany and Ansaldo of Italy were hired as secondary contractors. Azar Ab’s contract covered the design and supply of equipment for conversion to combined cycle units. Syrian Minister of Electricity Ahmad al-'Ali and Iranian Minister of Energy Parviz Fattah attended the commissioning of the first unit.
Last July Azar Ab was awarded a letter of intent to build on a BOT basis a 450mw power plant in northeast Syria at a cost of €250mn. A contract for this project is being finalized at the ministry, according to Mr 'Ali. Demand for electricity in Syria has been rising in the past few years at an average of 8-9%, according to the ministry.
