ISLAMABAD: A Chinese company will build a 1,320MW coal-powered electricity plant in Thar Desert.
In this regard, the Pakistan government officials and the representatives from the Chinese power generation company also signed a letter of interest. Managing Director Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Shah Jahan Mirzaand and Director Shanghai Electric Group Company Ltd (SEGCL) signed the letter of interest (LoI) for the development of two indigenous coal-based power plants of 660MW each. Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha and other senior officials witnessed the signing ceremony.
The power plants are to be set up under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project. Their commercial production will start in 2018 and reduce the country’s dependence on costly oil-based power generation and save millions of dollars in import bills.
The company will use steam turbine technology and sell power to the National Transmission and Despatch Company under a 30-year term power purchase agreement.
Minister Asif said the government is committed to develop Pakistan’s local coal resources and utilise them for power generation, thus realising the dream of making Thar the energy capital of Pakistan in coming years.
