Private firm to revive Jamshoro plant

AsiaPak Investments to invest $545m in Thar coal, boost electricity supply

KARACHI:

Private enterprise AsiaPak Investments has unveiled a bold investment plan of $545 million aimed at revitalising the Jamshoro Coal Power Plant, which has been stalled due to the unavailability of imported coal. The 650 MW coal power plant, despite being 96% complete, has remained non-operational.

During a recent visit to the plant, CEO of AsiaPak Investments, Shaheryar Chishty announced that his company intends to shift the plant’s operations to utilise Thar Coal instead of imported coal. The company will also manage coal from Thar Block One to run the plant. This decision is poised to breathe new life into the dormant project, bringing it back on track to meet the region’s energy needs.

Chishty shared that AsiaPak has already submitted an investment plan for this ambitious undertaking, with preparations ready to commence as soon as governmental approval is secured. The process of transitioning the plant to Thar coal is anticipated to be completed within the next 10 months, with the electricity generated from the Jamshoro Coal power plant expected to integrate seamlessly into the national electric grid by the following year. Once operational, the first unit of the Jamshoro Coal power plant will contribute a substantial 660 MW of power to the national grid.

To sustain the plant’s power generation, a daily supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of coal will be required. It is estimated that the coal-fired facility will produce an impressive 5 billion units of electricity annually, addressing a substantial 25% of the nation’s electricity demands.

Chishty affirmed that the project is scheduled for full operation by September 2024, coinciding with the expected completion of a rail link connecting the plant to the Thar mining area. Additionally, K-Electric has expressed interest in contributing to the project. When the unit was initially awarded, it was heralded as the most cost-effective coal-fired plant. Now, with AsiaPak’s commitment and vision, the citizens of Karachi can look forward to a more robust and reliable electricity supply in the near future, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2023.

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