Turkish energy company to construct biggest power plant in Iraq

BAGHDAD (A.A) - 09.05.2011 - Turkey's Calik Enerji will construct the biggest power plant in Iraq.
The foundation of the biggest natural gas combined cycle power plant of Iraq was laid by a ceremony on Sunday. Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Husayn Ibrahim Salih al-Shahristani attended the ceremony.
"There is a serious electricity shortage in Iraq, and we will be in an intensive effort to increase our electricity generation capacity," al-Shahristani said.
Al-Shahristani said Iraq and Calik Holding had agreed on two power projects, and the Al-Khairat natural gas combined cycle power plant, the foundation of which was laid on Sunday, would start generating electricity by summer of 2012.
Also speaking in the ceremony, Calik Holding's Executive Board President Ahmet Calik said they would also construct another natural gas combined cycle power plant near Mosul. 
Calik said the two power plants would meet great deal of electricity need of Iraq.
To be built near Karbala, Al-Khairat Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant will cost 445.5 million USD, and will have 10 gas turbines. The power plant with an installed capacity of 1240 MW will be put into operation two years later and increase Iraq's power generating capacity 20 percent.
The second natural gas combined cycle power plant of Iraq will be constructed in Nainawa, south of Mosul. The 750 MW power plant will cost about 388.5 million USD and is expected to be completed in 20 months. 
The two power plants will employ about 2,000 people.
Moreover, GAP Construction, one of subsidiaries of Calik Holding, will carry out a 195 million USD project comprising the rehabilitation of a 19-kilometer expressway between Baghdad International Airport and the city center as well as landscaping works on a plot with a total area of 1.6 million square meters.
Thus, the Calik Holding has undertaken three projects in Iraq worth 1.027 billion USD.