Two mega grid stations worth Rs24b inaugurated

Minister says 2,000MW cheap power from Thar coal will be added to grid by June 2023

LAHORE:

The Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Khurram Dastgir Khan on Saturday lay the foundation stone of two mega grid stations worth Rs 24 billion in Lahore and Sheikhupura.

“The government is focusing on the production of cheap electricity from indigenous resources like Thar coal, wind, solar and hydel,” he said, announcing that, “2000 MW of cheap power from Thar coal alone will be added to the national grid before the end of June 2023.”

The federal minister made these remarks while addressing the ground-breaking ceremonies of the 500 kV grid station in Lahore North and the 220 kV grid station at the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park (QABP), and allied transmission lines in district Sheikhupura, at the total cost of around Rs24 billion.

Dastagir also inaugurated the associated transmission of the QABP grid station, the 4km long transmission line IN/OUT from Bandala-Kala Shah Kaku Circuit – I and II.

The minister, in his address, appreciated the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) for launching the two mega projects and the 113km long Balloki Converter Station- 500kV in Lahore North – 500kV Nokhar grid station transmission line.

“The 500 kV Lahore North grid station will play an important role in reducing system and line losses, and improving the voltage profile of the associated Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) network, which will also result in the reduction of the cost of electricity,” said Dastagir.

Dastgir also laid the foundation for the 220 kV QABP grid station. “The main objective of the project is to meet the load demand of the QABP Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being developed by the Punjab Industrial Estate Development Management Company (PIEDMC). The project will be completed at the cost of Rs3 billion.”