MoU signed for coal-fired power plant in Gwadar

Provincial govt will provide 207 acres of land on 33-year lease for project

QUETTA: Balochistan Energy Department Secretary Shaharyar Taj and a Chinese company CHIC representative Speed Lee signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of 300MW coal fired power station in Gwadar on Thursday under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to the terms and conditions of the MoU, the provincial government would provide 207 acres of land to CHIC on lease of 33 years for the project which would be completed in three years.

Besides, provincial Chief Secretary Fazeel Asghar was present on the occasion and addressed the ceremony. Briefing about the project, he said the power plant would be sufficient to meet the in process construction needs in Gwadar and meet the prospective electricity demands.

“The construction of power plant will ensure supply of electricity to remote areas of Gwadar,” he said.

He added that the construction would be initiated soon after the possession of land to be transferred to the Chinese company.

Briefing on the coal input required for the project, the CS said, “We will import coal from South Africa to meet the demands for the coal fired power station.”

The secretary vowed to provide employment opportunities that would be emerging from the project to the youth of Balochistan.

The CS also said that energy requirement of Kuchlak would also be fulfilled by establishing a 100MW solar plant which would start working by June.

CHIC Group Global Co, Ltd was founded in Shanghai in 1997 and has become an entrepreneurial leader in China’s rapidly growing economy. After the initiation of the company, CHIC focused on three industry sectors in Beijing namely, supply chain management solutions and logistic, domestic manufacturing and high-technology industries.

Consistent with its strong international orientation, CHIC Group is registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and its base is located in the great new development center in Pudong, Shanghai.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.