Thermal power station in Sukkur closed since 2005

SUKKUR: The thermal power station in Sukkur has had a fitful life. Inaugurated in 1965, the plant first shut down in 1997, then in 2000 and then in 2005, when it started working for a few days before being shut down again — this time for good.

The power station was established by the Canadian government under the Colombo Plan in 1965. It replaced the old power house and was supposed to cater to the future needs of electricity in Sukkur. In the first phase, two units producing 12.5 megawatts (MW) each started while two more units started working in 1967.

With a production capacity of 50MW of electricity — which at that time was more than the city’s demands — the station started supplying to other cities and towns, including Shikarpur and Lakhi Ghulam Shah, as well.

In 1997, however, a boiler accident killed seven technicians, after which the station was shut down for a couple of days, said a Wapda official on condition of anonymity. In 2005, it opened again with just three units operating on gas and its capacity was reduced to just 7MW so it had to be shut down again.

According to the official, there was enough electricity in the country in 2005 — Pakistan was even ready to export electricity to India, and so nobody paid any attention to the power station in Sukkur. When just a year later, load-shedding started, it became almost necessary to revive the plant.

The official said that the plant’s machinery, its switch-yard and switch gears are in perfect condition. The management just needs to replace the boilers, which have been worn out with time. “This would not require a fortune,” he said. Wapda cannot afford to run this power station on purified domestic gas and therefore it should use unrefined natural gas, which is available in nearby areas. He also recommended that Wapda install two gas turbines of combined cycle with a capacity of 25MW each. This would not only produce 50MW of electricity but will also power the four existing units and together, 100MW would be produced.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2011.