ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) approved in principle a project to import 1,000 megawatts of power from Iran.
The brotherly neighbouring country currently supplies power to Pakistan, with 73MW available for Gwadar, at approximately Rs6.25 per kilowatt-hour. The new agreement would supply 1,000MW of electricity to Quetta and other parts of Balochistan at between Rs8 and Rs10 per unit.
Tehran’s electricity company Tavanir will set up a 1,300MW power plant in Zahedan, on the border with Pakistan, dedicated to providing power to the Pakistani side of Balochistan.
The decision was taken by Nepra chief Tariq Sadozai. The feasibility study for the project was jointly completed by Nespak, the state-owned engineering firm, and Moshanir, its Iranian counterpart. The plan called for a $700 million high-voltage direct current transmission line, with two converter/inverter substations at either side. The cost of the new Zahedan power plant is not included in the cost of the project as that is something that Tavanir is willing to bear on its own.
