In September 2022, our company faced the challenge of participating in a tender, announced by JSC UES Sakrusenergo for the supply and installation of four sets of single-phase 133 MVA 330/220/10.5 kV autotransformers in the Gardabani Substation.
Winning the competition among reputable and well-respected companies was not easy, but our proposal to complete the supply by the end of 2022 and the price we offered, proved to be decisive.
According to the contract signed with Sakrusenergo, the supply and installation process of the 4 sets of autotransformers had to be completed by December 26, 2022. Normally, this process takes at least 8 months, which is very optimistic under the current situation.
As you know the supply of the 4 single-phase Autotransformers for the S/S "Gardabani-500" is considered as a part of the reconstruction project of the 330kV single-circuit OHL "Gardabani-Agstafa" to Double-Circuit OHL, under the ten-year Network Development Plan of Georgia 2022-2032. 330kV OHL "Gardabani-2" served as a reserve line before installation of the new AT3-2 Autotransformers in the SS "Gardabani-500".
On September 1, 2022, we signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Baku transformer manufacturing company ATEF GRUP. Due to a successful partnership between our companies, the factory management decided to operate the factory 24/7, which allowed us to significantly reduce the time of transportation and installation process on-site in extreme weather.
The installation and testing process of the single-phase autotransformers at the Plant (ATEF GRUP) in the Baku Transformer Plant was attended by the representatives of the Georgian State Electro system and Sakrusenergo. The installation work of the autotransformers at the Gardabani substation was performed by the Georgian State Electrosystem specialists under the supervision of the chief engineer of the manufacturing plant.
After testing it, on December 31, 2022, before the New Year, the new autotransformer AT 3-2 was successfully integrated into the Georgian Energy System, which made it possible to fully integrate the 330 kV "Gardabani-2" power plant in the energy systems of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Power transmission lines "Gardabani-1" and "Gardabani-2" will be able to comprise up to 700 MW of electricity in total.
The implemented project helped Georgian and Azerbaijan energy systems to operate without interruption and exchange up to 1400 MW of electricity through the connected power transmission lines (330 kV grid "Gardabani-1" and "Gardabani-2", 500 kV grid "Mukhrani-Veli". It significantly increases the sustainability and security of the Georgian Energy System and the reliability of uninterrupted power supply to the population of the country.