location

The Rehabilitation Projects of Mingachevir and Varvara Dam and Power Plant are located just north of Mingachevir in Azerbaijan. The consultation services of these projects were awarded to Mahab Ghodss Consulting Engineering Co. in 2000.

Mingachevir

Varvara

Objectives

The main objectives of the Reconstruction of Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Plant Cascade are as follows:

• Rehabilitation of both power plants of the Cascade: Mingachevir HPP and Varvara HPP including completion of the replacement of two 60 MW units with the new 70 MW units as well as Power Transformers at Mingachevir HPP, and the replacement of old 110 kV and 220 kV equipment at the Switchyard with the new ones.
• Construction of a new Control Room at Mingachevir HPP, modernization and replacing the Plant Control System to the new building
• Overhaul of hydro-technical facilities at head basin and lower pond of Varvara HPP
• Reconstruction of Varvara HPP, increasing its capacity up to 21-22 MW
• Modernization of the Plant Control System and Hydraulic Facilities Control System at both stations.

Characteristics

• The power station is the largest hydroelectric-type in the country with an installed capacity of 420 megawatts (560,000 hp).
• Mingachevir reservoir, behind the dam, supplies water to the Upper Qarabag and Upper Sirvan Channels which help irrigate about 1,000,000 ha (2,500,000 acres) of farmland in the country.