330 kV “Gardabani” is a power transmission line connecting the power systems of Georgia and Azerbaijan, which was put into operation in 1958. It connects substations “Gardabani-500” and “Agstafa”. The length of the power transmission line is 64 km, including 21 km on the territory of Georgia. The maximum load of the power transmission line is 250 MW. The transmission line in the territory of Georgia includes 60 masts and steel-aluminum wire of AСО 480 brand is installed on them.
In accordance with the 2019-2029 and 2020-2030 ten-year plans for the development of the transmission network of Georgia, JSC GE “Sakrusenergo” was entrusted with the reconstruction of the 330 kV substation “Gardabni” owned by the company by means of its twinning.
Based on the current technical condition of the EGK, it was necessary to increase the reliability and stability of one of the most important high-voltage power transmission lines in the energy system of Georgia, “Gardabani”, and at the same time to increase the capacity throughput. In order to implement the above, in March 2020, JSC “Sakrusenergo” received an order from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia: for the first decade of May of the current year, in connection with the switching of the double-chain 330 kV power plant “1.2 Gardabani” on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
Project and cost accounting documentation was drawn up by the design and construction department of JSC GE “Sakrusenergo”, which successfully passed the examination at the National Bureau of Forensic Examination named after Levan Samkharauli.
For the implementation of the project, it was necessary to install two 330 kV “1.2 Gardabani” towers, N63 and N64, in the area surrounding the Red Bridge, in the village of Kapanagchi, Orjachva, and from the N64 tower to the N158 tower of Orjachva 330 kV “1.2 Gardabani” built in the border zone of Azerbaijan. Connecting wires and fiber optic cable.
It should be noted that the period of performance of this task coincided with the difficult epidemic situation in the world, including in Georgia. On March 11, the World Health Organization announced the spread of the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as a pandemic; A state of emergency has been declared in the entire territory of Georgia. The situation was further aggravated by the fact that the place of work, Marneuli municipality, was declared a red zone due to the increasing number of infected people and restricted free movement in the region, and all this presented additional unforeseen difficulties both for the employees of “Sakrusenergo” employed in the construction, and for the management of the company, which He provided the staff with the necessary supplies and food products. Based on the above, the implementation of the project and meeting the deadlines was a kind of challenge for the company.
The works related to the switchover of the two-chain 330 kV substation “1,2 Gardabani” on the border section of Georgia-Azerbaijan were carried out at the site with the implementation of preventive measures and daily control of the health of the personnel.
Despite the declaration of a state of emergency and the restrictions introduced in Georgia, all the necessary orders in the country were planned and promptly implemented: foundations, supports, insulation, mounting fittings, wire and others.
In the shortest possible time, the foundations were laid and the masts were assembled. Each mast weighed 32 tons. It should be noted that the masts of this weight and size were installed for the first time in Georgia by the method of placing them on the joint.
As of May 10, 2020, the new, double-chain, 330 kV power transmission line “1.2 Gardabani” was connected from the N64 mast on the territory of Georgia to the N158 mast located on the territory of Azerbaijan.
The switching works of double-chain 330 kV power plant “1.2 Gardabani” on the border of Georgia-Azerbaijan have been fully completed by the staff of JSC “Sakrusenergo”.
The reconstruction of the 330 kV substation “Gardabni” and the arrangement of the relevant infrastructure help to increase the stability of the substation, increase the reliability of the synchronous operation of the energy systems of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Russia, and allow to increase the exchange of capacities from 700 to 1000 MW.
