Siemens to supply 41MW mobile unit for Bayat-1 power plant in Afghanistan

Siemens has received an order from Bayat Power, a subsidiary of Bayat Group, to supply a 41MW SGT-A45 mobile unit for the Bayat-1 power plant – the first gas-fired plant built in Afghanistan since the 1970s.

Bayat-1 power plant

According to the German conglomerate, a complete gas-fired power plant, centered on the SGT-A45 trailer-mounted unit, will commence generating electricity for the Jowzjan Province in the northern part of the country, in a few months from now. The SGT-A45 mobile unit has been designed to address the increasing demand for rapid power generation.

Siemens said that the SGT-A45 mobile unit is, therefore, a good choice for customers with urgent power requirements or in regions with a poorly developed infrastructure.

The company’s mobile solution for the Bayat-1 power plant comprises an aeroderivative gas turbine that is capable of generating up to 41MW of power at 50 Hertz.

The SGT-A45 mobile unit was completely tested and pre-commissioned in the factory, said the German company, which claimed that its trailer-mounted design minimizes the amount of construction work needed on the site. Due to this, the Afghan power plant can begin generating electricity in only a few months and is capable of meeting the power consumption requirements for nearly 200,000 homes in the Jowzjan Province.

Commenting on the Bayat-1 power plant order, Julian Erfurth – Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales within Siemens Power and Gas, said: “The Siemens SGT-A45 mobile unit is the most powerful and efficient mobile gas turbine in the market. Our unique offering, combined with Bayat Power’s extensive experience developing infrastructure in Afghanistan, will enable the first new gas-fired power plant in the country in over 40 years. Siemens is proud to work with Bayat Power to deliver this very important project.”

Bayat-1 power plant is expected to supply clean and reliable electricity, the first step to energy independence in Afghanistan. Currently, most of Afghanistan’s electricity is imported from abroad. The Bayat Power Phase 1 project will allow the war-torn country to bring down its dependency on imports and make use of its domestic natural gas reserves.

Dr. Ehsan Bayat, Chairman and CEO, the Bayat Group, commenting on the Bayat-1 power plant, said: “Bayat Power Phase 1 is truly a ground-breaking project, achievable only with the innovative efficiency and capacity of the SGT-A45 mobile turbine and the collaborative vision of Siemens, Bayat Power, and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“This project is not only just a unique opportunity to match creative private sector investment with Siemens’ considerable technical expertise and world-class turbine technology to allow Afghanistan to take its first step towards powering the next phase of the nation’s economic growth, but also is a further example of the Bayat Group’s commitment to investing in Afghanistan’s domestic energy industry in order to help electrify new industries, create jobs and activate opportunities which will benefit our entire country.”