KARACHI: The clean energy project of FFC Energy Limited (FFCEL) in Jhimpir, Thatta, with 33 wind turbines capable of producing a total of 50 megawatts, is expected to start full-fledged electricity production in November, Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) Managing Director Lt-Gen (Retired) Naeem Khalid Lodhi told journalists during a visit to the 1,283-acre wind farm on Monday.
The project has been completed in one and a half years at a total cost of $134 million with the entire financing coming from local banks.
“We’re considering expanding production up to 250MW,” Lodhi said, adding final decision would be taken in the next six months based on the government’s reaction following the commencement of electricity production.
Power generated from 33 wind turbines – each of them having production capacity of 1.5MW – will be supplied to the national grid. The levelised tariff will be 14 cents per kilowatt hour, meaning that it can be as high as 18-20 cents per unit compared to five cents expected after 10 years of operation. “It’ll be cheaper than any liquid fuel available.”
A local company, Descon Engineering Limited, manufactured the steel towers for the wind turbines. However, blades and generators were imported from Germany because of their hi-tech nature, Lodhi said.
The project was benchmarked against similar wind farms established in Egypt and Yemen given the similar climatic conditions that existed there, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2012.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1713525343-0/WhatsApp-Image-2024-04-19-at-4-09-16-PM-(1)1713525343-0-270x192.webp)
1713525453-0/Henry-Cavill-in-James-Bond-(AI)1713525453-0-270x192.webp)
Good FFCEL Great job done .
@ Nadia
Zorlu energy initially installed three wind turbines 6MW capacity, since One year and producing electricity successfully connected with HESCO grid and please read data on AEDB site with big Glasses nothing is fake in data . Patriot Pakistanis there is good news that already three more wind power plants 50MW each is under civil construction and two wind Power plants very soon within months INSHALLAH start producing electricity , they are about to be commissioned. 1.Zorlu Energy 50MW. (Turkish company) (about to be commissioned)
2.FFCEL 50MW (Pakistani Company) (about to be commissioned)
3.FWEL I 50MW (Pakistani Company) (under Construction)
4.FWEL II 50MW (Pakistani Company) (under Construction)
5.TGF Wind farm 50MW (Chinese company) (under Construction) @Nadia nobody is fool investing millions of dollars one 50MW plant cost about 135million dollars. long live Pakistan
It should be consider as a test case if it successful then i think it will a great effort and it should be continue.
I honestly feel that without any bias, first thanking Allah, we must congratulate FFCEL, DESCON and NORDEX for this wonderful achievement. It is so pleasing to hear this news, and credit goes to FFCEL for taking this initiative and NORDEX - DESCON for accepting & delivering the challenge. Please appreciate that in prevailing geopolitical situation, it must be a tough call for investors to put their money in this project, for an international supplier to supply & have long term commitments in Pakistan and for a local EPC company to work in JV arrangement, accepting & sharing risks of equipment performance on first of a kind project in Pakistan. I wish we would have opted this route long time back but its never too late, inshaAllah, this beginning will take us to a newer & brighter Pakistan.
Nadia,
following the footprints of those who have made history is not a bad omen at all.
After the total destruction of Japan, they shown resilience and steadfastness for nation building, and when Bush Senior seen the fast tilting balance of trade in favour of Japan, he got unconscious in a public appearance.
After seeing the unprecedented and unparalleled progress of Pakistan, the South Korean came to Pakistan and besieged for the foot prints of Five Year Plan - they replicated our Plans and now South Korea is one of the best economies of the world. THEREFORE, DO NOT GET IMPLIEDLY SWAYED WITH THE OIL MAFIA SILENT BUT FORCEFUL NEGATIVE PROPAGANDA - THIS IS AN AREA WHERE ONE INSHALLAH, PAKISTAN PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA WILL SPEAK OUT OF THEIR CONSCIENCE.
@Nadia: The wind data is actually on the aedb website. I am no expert in this but 5 min interval data seems pretty detailed to me.
Build one hundred more forms. Get rid of power crises.
Superb!
Being part of this project, I have visited the place and saw all 33 turbines, excellent effort by FFCEL and by Descon Engineering Ltd.
Initial cost of the project is high but keeping in mind that it is forever and environmental friendly.
A huge round of applause for both companies!
Good job... Keep up ...
@Nadia: Please think positive. Examples of other countries should be followed. 65 years of hesitation has ruined our country.
Renewable Energy....a positive step towards clean & prosperous Pakistan
With a 33 % plant factor and non-reliable wind speed data, let's see how much the wind flies electricity to the people of Pakistan.
Turbines and towers will soon be sold to Karachi based ship breakers.
Long live AEDB.
The project has been completed in one and a half years at a total cost of $134 million with the entire financing coming from local banks.
Power generated from 33 wind turbines – each of them having production capacity of 1.5MW – will be supplied to the national grid. The levelised tariff will be 14 cents per kilowatt hour, meaning that it can be as high as 18-20 cents per unit compared to five cents expected after 10 years of operation.
Return with no investment.. that to abnormally high till 10 years..
It is a real breakthrough.
As a nation, we are deceiving ourselves. Even the well informed and well connected people sitting on the helm of affairs have deceived Pakistan and played in the hands of Oil Mafia. It is a naked fact that Germany alone is producing 35000 MG electricity from Renewal Energy sources including wind turbines, etc. This is more than double production of Pakistan from all available sources, including Nuclear, hydel, wind, furnace oil etc.
I have all the optimism that one day compulsed with his national spirit, will speak the truth as to how poor Pakistanis have been brutal victim to the Oil Mafia. I wonder if TRIBUNE conducts an investigative report, duly researched and brings it to the public at large for the better good of Pakistan's coming generations to live happily.
Bravo,
I was part of the team from manufacturing in descon lahore. Great to hear about the completion.
Cheers Ahsan