ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Engr Khurram Dastgir Khan inaugurated 220km long 500kV Thar-Matiari transmission line.
The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) completed the transmission line through which 1,980MW electricity generated from Thar coal has been added to the National Grid.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony near Hyderabad, the minister said as per instructions of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the NTDC worked hard and completed the Thar-Matiari transmission line in record time. More than 50 per cent of the remaining work was completed in shortest time, he added.
“The project cost is around Rs20 billion and it was completed through NTDC’s own resources. Rs1bn were saved,” he said, adding the project was to be completed four years ago but during the previous government’s tenure, work on this project was halted.
Dastgir said on the instructions of the premier, the production of electricity from Thar Coal has been increased by 1,980MW this year, which has been added to the National Grid through this transmission line.
The minister said that these projects are very important given the use of local coal, which is generating cheap electricity, adding through these projects a new era of development would be started, bring prosperity for the locals and boost industrialisation in the region.
He said the NTDC, by using indigenous capacity of Pakistan, has awarded projects worth Rs10 billion to local companies. “Conductors, transformers and other material are being produced locally.”
Dastgir said the NTDC with the cooperation of the Hyderabad police DIG and other security agencies has prevented the material’s theft.
The minister congratulated Managing Director NTDC, Engr Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan and the entire team on timely completion of important projects by the NTDC.
NTDC MD Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan said 54-member crew with 3,000 labour worked hard for the completion of the transmission line.
