New grid station to meet SEZs’ energy needs

Costing Rs20b, project likely to be completed by Jan 2025

LAHORE:

Federal Minister for Energy Khurram Dastgir Khan has laid the foundation stone of a 500/ 132-kilovolt (kV) grid station for the Allama Iqbal Industrial City under the Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC), near Sahianwala interchange in Faisalabad district.

The project, launched by National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), has been designed to address energy needs of both the Allama Iqbal Industrial City and M3 Industrial City under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) Special Economic Zones’ (SEZs) project.

The grid station will cater to the medium and long-term scenarios by supplying reliable and stable electricity to support a demand load of 600 megawatts.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the energy minister highlighted the importance of the project, which would significantly strengthen industries. He said that the grid station would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs20 billion and was targeted to be completed by January 2025. “A 1.5km-long transmission line from Gatti-Ghazi Barotha will also be constructed for providing interconnection facility to the project.”

Khan commended the early completion of NTDC’s projects and appreciated the company management for launching new grid station and transmission line projects. He emphasised that issues pertaining to imports for the project would be addressed as early as possible and told NTDC MD to complete the project before the stipulated time.

“We have to contribute to the development of the country instead of complaining,” the minister remarked. NTDC MD Engineer Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan said that the project would not only boost the energy sector but also contribute to the socio-economic progress.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2023.

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