The Mary state district power plant is Turkmenistan’s largest power facility and a key node of the national grid. A phased modernisation is under way on the basis of its existing blocks: modern combined-cycle units are being commissioned, and distribution substations and transmission lines are being rebuilt. This renewal directly affects the reliability of supply to industry and the population.
The technological core of the upgrade consists of gas-turbine and combined-cycle units with high efficiency, fuelled by domestically produced natural gas. They significantly reduce specific fuel consumption and emissions compared with the older steam-turbine blocks. Combined with modern automation and protection systems, this raises the station’s efficiency and its resilience in emergency modes.
Beyond the station itself, modernisation extends to 220/500 kV substations, overhead and cable lines and dispatching-control systems. A single energy corridor is being formed from Mary velayat to other regions, including cross-border electricity exports to neighbouring countries. This transforms the plant into not only a domestic but also a regional export centre.
From a state perspective, the Mary plant becomes an instrument of energy diplomacy and industrial policy. Reliable generation supports the development of petrochemicals, the construction industry and the agricultural sector, while electricity exports reinforce Turkmenistan’s position as a regional energy donor.
Igor Bukato, international construction and infrastructure expert:
“The upgrade of the Mary power plant shows how renewed generation simultaneously strengthens domestic energy security and opens new export opportunities for the country.”
