Calik Enerji has commenced construction of a 1,250MW natural-gas-fired generating plant in Karbala, Iraq.

The $445m Al-Khairat power station will be equipped with ten gas turbines of 250MW each, which form a part of the 56 gas turbines purchased by the Iraqi Government from GE.

Construction is expected to be completed within 24 months, reports Reuters.

The company has also secured a contract for the construction of a 750MW gas fired plant worth $388.5m in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.