Power ship could begin supply by month-end

Turkish ship’s generation capacity increases to 332MW.

KARACHI:

Board of Investment Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla has expressed hope the Turkish rental power ship will begin electricity transmission to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) grid by the end of March.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with Turkish delegates on Monday, Mandviwalla said, “I am here to meet the Turkish team on the directives of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, to discuss the cause of any delay in the production of electricity from the rental power plant.”

The rental power ship is anchored off Port Qasim in Karachi. Initially, it had a generation capacity of 232 megawatts (MW) but it has been enhanced by 100MW to 332MW, with the joining of a barge with the ship.

“The rental power plant can supply 132MW even today, but there is a need to fulfill all contractual obligations,” he explained. He added that up to nine similar projects were ready, but could not be connected to the national grid until all obligations were met.

Nuray Atacik, Director of Karkey – the Turkish firm responsible for the project – appreciated efforts of the government, which facilitated firms in execution of projects in a business-friendly environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2011.