After more than 30 years of operation, the refurbishment work ordered by the Ministry of Electricity (MOE) in 2017 called for the replacement of core components of the plant’s degraded power generation facilities (gas and oil-fired boilers and steam turbines) to restore its original output rated at 200 MW. This is Mitsubishi Power’s second completed project at the Hartha plant, following refurbishment work on Unit 4, which was ordered in March 2015 and completed in December 2017.

The Hartha thermal power station accounts for about 25% of Basra Province’s power generation capacity. It was completed in 1982, featuring original power generation equipment supplied by Mitsubishi Power, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). Following successive conflicts in the region, however, the original facilities sustained partial damage as well as gradual degradation, causing the plant to operate at a reduced capacity of 60%.

Funding for the Unit 1 project, and the earlier Unit 4 refurbishment, was provided by Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), as part of efforts to contribute to Iraq’s infrastructure development.

The refurbishment work was carried out by a consortium led by Mitsubishi Power, which replaced the main equipment and parts of core components such as boilers and steam turbines, to improve the facilities’ reliability. The Turkish engineering company GAMA Power System Engineering & Construction handled local transportation and installation work.

Previously, Mitsubishi Power had undertaken refurbishment work for the Iraq MOE at the Taji, Al-Musaib and Mosul thermal power plants.