The project converts flared gas into power while reducing environmental pollution
The Aggreko power project in Garmian is one of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s strategic energy projects, converting gas previously burned off from oil wells into electricity.
The power plant has a generation capacity of 165 megawatts and supplies electricity to the Garmian Independent Administration. The project processes approximately 42 million cubic meters of gas from oil wells in Garmian and converts it into electricity for the public power grid.
In previous years, gas and smoke released from oil operations caused environmental problems for nearby communities, residents, livestock and agricultural projects. Local residents have reported that smoke from oil facilities was carried by prevailing winds toward Kalar and surrounding areas.
Residents now say the reduction of flaring has improved local environmental conditions while the additional electricity supply has helped improve access to power across Garmian, including more remote areas.
About 90 percent of the plant’s workforce is local, making the project an important source of employment in the area.
The Kurdistan Regional Government has also pursued other projects to expand electricity generation while managing water and natural resources. Among these projects are several dams being constructed across the Kurdistan Region.
One of the major projects currently under construction is the Bawanur Dam, which is described as a strategic infrastructure project for both water storage and electricity generation.
The Bawanur Dam is an embankment-type dam measuring 880 meters in length, 20 meters in height and nine meters across the crest. It will have a water storage capacity of approximately 30 million cubic meters.
The dam will include four turbines with a combined generation capacity of 34 megawatts and will be connected directly to the national electricity grid.
In terms of electricity generation capacity among the region’s dams, Bawanur would rank behind the Dukan and Darbandikhan dams, making it one of the Kurdistan Region’s major planned sources of hydroelectric power.
Together, projects such as Aggreko and Bawanur reflect efforts to expand electricity generation through the use of oil-field gas and water resources while reducing environmental impacts and increasing local employment.