The 2019-2029 ten-year plan for the development of the transmission network of Georgia includes the reconstruction of the company-owned 330 kV substation “Gardabani-Agstafa” (330 kV substation “Gardabani”) through its twinning. JSC “Sakrusenergo” is defined as the company implementing the mentioned project and owning the two-chain 330 kV power plant “1.2 Gardabani”.
In connection with this, in 2019, the design and construction team of the company prepared design and cost accounting documentation, which was examined by the National Bureau of Forensic Examination named after Levan Samkharauli. According to the project, a certain part of the track of the new power transmission line between the towers N1-N17 and N54-N62 will follow the existing track of the 330 kV “Gardabani”. According to the tripartite agreements of JSC “State Electricity System of Georgia”, JSC GE “Sakrusenergo” and JSC “Azerenergy”, September 2021 was determined as the deadline for the completion of the construction of the transmission line and the testing of the power plant.
The so-called “Gardabani” is a 330 kV power transmission line connecting the energy systems of Georgia and Azerbaijan, which was put into operation in 1958. Due to the period of operation, the power plant has exhausted its working resources, and to renew it, it is necessary to completely replace all masts, wires and protective shields.
The reconstruction of the 330 kV substation “Gardabni” with the arrangement of the relevant infrastructure allows to increase the power exchange from 700 to 1000 MW and increase the reliability of synchronous operation between the power systems of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia.
In March of the current year, we received an order from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia to connect the double-chain 330 kV power line “1.2 Gardabani” to the existing 330 kV power line “Gardabani” in the first decade of May of this year.
In order to implement the aforementioned, it was necessary to install two double-chain, 330 sq.m. “1.2 Gardabani” towers, N62 and N63, in the village of Kapanakhch, in the vicinity of the Red Bridge, and to hang cables and fiber optic cable from the N63 tower to the N158 tower located in the border zone of Azerbaijan (length 460 m).
All necessary orders (foundations, masts, insulation, mounting fittings, wire, etc.) were planned and promptly carried out, which were delivered on time (despite the situation created by the new coronavirus).
In the shortest possible time, the foundations were laid and the masts were assembled. Each mast weighed 32 tons, which JSC “Sakrusenergo” has never had an analogue of in terms of weight, dimensions and operating experience.
Despite the above, the staff of JSC “Sakrusenergo” was able to install two У330-2+9 type masts in the shortest possible time and switch 12 tip АС300/67 type wires in difficult meteorological and working conditions on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
As of May 9, 2020, the double-chain, new 330 kV transmission line “1,2 Gardaban” from the N62 mast was connected to the existing 330 kV power line “Gardabani” (on the N3 mast).
Andro Tskhadadze, the manager of the operation and construction of the western Georgian power plants, coordinated and monitored the progress of the work.
Guram Javshanashvili, the deputy head of the transport service, coordinated the work of the engaged machinery and special equipment.
Felix Janashia, the head of the labor safety service, supervised the safe production of work by the staff and the implementation of preventive measures necessary to avoid the infection caused by the new corona virus in the country.
Orjachva, 330 kV “1.2 Transfer” N62 and N63 masts location selection and author supervision of construction and installation works was carried out by Giorgi Nadiradze, Head of Geoinformation Systems Service, and Yuri Nadiradze, Head of Designing and Construction Group.
It should be noted that the works related to the switching of the two-chain 330 kV power station “1.2 Gardabani” on the border section of Georgia-Azerbaijan have been fully performed by the staff of JSC GE “Sakrusenergo”.
