ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China agreed to revise and update the list of CPEC Energy Cooperation Project, removing 5 pending projects with the combined capacity of 3470 Megawatt.
The projects which were dropped includes Muzaffargarh Coal Power Project (1,320MW), Salt Range Mine Mouth Power Project (300MW) including mining, Gaddani Power Park (1,320MW), Sunnec Wind Farm (50MW), Chichoki Mallian Combined-cycle Power Plant (525MW). Sources said that these projects were analyzed in-depth by energy experts from both sides and it was decided to remove these projects by declaring them technically unfeasible.
However the source said that with the removal of these projects the CPEC installed capacity agreed under the previous energy agreement will remain unchanged. More projects are expected to be inducted soon based on feasibility and mutual agreement of experts from both sides.
The Punjab government was planning to construct two coal-fired projects with the combined generation capacity of 2,640MW in Rahim Yaar Khan and Muzaffargarh districts of Punjab. Both the projects are part of CPEC projects and Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB) is the supervising agency. Similarly 525MW thermal power plant at Chichoki Mallian was first initiated in 2008 during the tenure of PPP government with the cost of $354.5 million, however it was never materialised. After the current government came into power it was included in the CPEC energy project list.
