KARACHI: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has okayed a generation licence for K-Energy (a subsidiary of K-Electric), allowing it to convert generators into coal instead of oil at Bin Qasim Power Station.
K-Energy has been set up to undertake the coal conversion project of 420MW at the power plant, the utility has said.
According to K-Electric’s press statement, the first ever Coal Fired EPC in the country was signed between K-Energy and Harbin Electric of China back in 2013 where Harbin would construct new coal-fired boilers on these 2 units of BQPS 1.
Harbin Electric International is one of China’s largest enterprises in power project contracting and export of power equipment. This project will be completed in 2 and a half years with an approximate cost of $400 million.
Press statement also said that these coal-based units are equipped with emission controlled technologies in compliance with all applicable local and international environmental regulations.
KE has been rehabilitating the old plants and units that the new management had acquired back in 2009 and with these coal-fired boilers KE would be the first to generate electricity via coal.
Spokesman K-Electric said, “Issuance of Generation License is a major breakthrough and now NEPRA will determine tariff for the project which will ultimately provide relief to the end consumer.
KE believes in producing electricity from coal and will provide fuel security, diversification and reduction in cost of generation by substituting expensive fuel oil with affordable fuel in the existing fleet of K-Electric”.
