KESC unveils coal conversion project

Power distributors seek to move away from natural gas and furnace oil.

KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company Limited (KESC) is developing a project for converting the Bin Qasim Power Station (BQPS) to the country’s first-ever coal-fired power generation from the current natural gas or furnace oil mix.

At present, majority of the KESC owned power generation fleet is significantly dependent upon natural gas supplied by the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC), a resource showing a major downward trend in recent years.

Natural gas supply is feared to reduce even further in the years to come which could paralyse the generation capacity of KESC in the given circumstances.

The upcoming BQPS-II is expected to add 560 megawatts to KESC’s power generation fleet. The coal conversion project would significantly lower the electricity tariff for KESC through the conversion of BQPS with either a retrofit or installation of new boilers in the existing units.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2011.