Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (C) along with Punjab Chief Minister (L) pull the string to reveal the plaque for the Shahiwal coal-fired plant on Friday. PHOTO: PID
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated two 660-megawatt coal-fired power projects – the first of its kind in Punjab – having a capacity of 1,320MW in Qadirabad, Sahiwal. The project, which will be completed by 2016, will not only help meet the country’s electricity demand but also create employment for the people of Sahiwal district and contribute to the GDP.
“We chalked out the plan for this project in just two months ago. The Punjab government and Chinese companies have undertaken the development work at such a fast pace,” he said, voicing hope the project would bring 30 per cent returns to the investors.
“This is the third coal-based power project that my government has inaugurated in the last few months and I am going to inaugurate the Nandipur project [on Saturday],” the premier confidently added.
PM Nawaz regretted that despite the 23,000MW installed capacity in the country, the operational capacity was only around 13,000MW. He promised that in next eight to 10 years, his government would double the power generation.
He also highlighted the importance of the Karachi-Lahore Motorway, which will also pass through Sahiwal and apprised the audience that it will usher in an era of economic development in the city. He said that Rs55 billion have been allocated for the acquisition of land for the motorway.
The prime minister thanked the government of China for its role in assisting infrastructural and energy projects. “The Pak-China corridor will be a game changer in the region. The corridor is a 2,700-kilometre highway that stretches from Kashghar to Gwadar through Khunjrab. We are also considering building a special economic zone along the trade corridor that will lead to the industrial development in the whole country.”
The economic trade corridor comprises 10 coal power projects in Gaddani, 10 coal power projects in Thar and six power projects in Punjab. “I dreamt to transform Gwadar into a port on the lines of Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong,” Nawaz emphasised.
He also listed the recent energy projects initiated by the government like Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha, each having a capacity of 4,500MW, and the 1,320MW power plant in Jamshoro. With all these projects, 21,000MW of electricity will be added to the national grid in the next eight to 10 years, he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said darkness will be eliminated from the country under the present government and more coal power plants of this kind will be established in the province.
Work is being carried out on hydel, solar and coal-based power projects as part of PM Nawaz’s strategy for resolving the energy crisis.
In a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission of China and Pakistan held on February 19 in Beijing, it was agreed that power projects with the capacity of 20,000 MW will be set up in Pakistan during the next seven years. The chief minister said that he will personally visit Sahiwal twice a month to review the pace of the project.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2014.
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@Humza: I respect Mr. Sharif for taking these 'steps' but the power crisis can be drastically mitigated by cutting the losses instead of throwing money away in low efficiency furnaces.
@H Chaudhry: I am sorry but the steps that are the most critical have never been taken by Mr. Sharif so far. Making the defaulters (including government institutions) pay, working on cutting line losses and getting rid of the nemesis of power theft by taking concrete action against those found to be involved in it. It doesn't matter how many power plants he inaugurates (which is long term stuff), when the setup (short corrective term) isn't right, he is just wasting the money of those who care to pay the tax levied on them.
unfortunately some countrymen have pessimistic mindset cant see the country on the road to progress
"Punjab’s first coal-fired projects inaugurated" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Work on the projects is inaugurated...wait till 2016 till the production is inaugurated.
One needs to bear in mind that coal fired power plant efficiencies are among the lowest when compared to other modes. In simple terms installed capacity of 1000 MW will generate only 350 MW of power. The highest in the world is 42%, where either GE or Mitsubishi turbogenerators are used. There are two more issues that need be addressed which are environmental pollution and robust logistics for ensuring regular coal supply. Nevertheless, coal reserves at Tharparker need to be utilized to overcome the short supply of electricity. Expert need to workout a road map in formulating a mix of hydel, thermal (coal, oil and gas fired), solar, wind, nuclear (?????) power generation methods depending upon resources and skills available. Use of Chinese equipment has not been very satisfactory in the Indian context due lack of quality and reliability.
@PakPower: It sounds like you are just upset that someone is finally tackling the energy crisis. Let's give credit where it is due.
@Sing and Kramer You are correct about Coal plants as really bad for environment but the chronic shortage Pakistan has at the moment it is necessary to have some cheap baseload power. Coal plant produce cheap baseload power that may be able to get the economy going and in turn renewables, very expensive hydro, etc will come in to mix. Pakistan has to start somewhere and Dams/hydro is long term solution requiring several years, Nuclear power is very very expensive but with International pressure circa Iran, Natural Gas reserves are extint thus cogeneration/natura gas fired power plants are out, etc.
Coal with all its evil nature to environment is a necessary evil for Pakistan to include in its supply mix. I hope a line can be drawn to how many of these are enough and some how Pakistan can finally get to tap its Dam/hydro potential.
inaugurated?? why they dupe people ? its ground breaking NOT an inauguration(something after the completion) ! even news paper should make some sense and know the difference!
@kulwant singh: China has a severe, severe pollution problem because of coal fired plants. Midday in Beijing is murky brown. People walk about wearing surgical masks. Same, for some other large Chinese cities.
On this side of the Border many coal based power plants are working but the are polluting the environment.A common man can not imagine how much coal they consume daily the Bathinda thermal power station consumes a full train ie 75 bogies of coal the condition of Pakistan railways is also not good than how the railways will supply the coal. It is in the interest of the country to arrest the water sources from where we can have cheap power and also be saved from floods. It is cumbersome to manage the ash produced by coal fired power plants.
Congratulation pmln and people of Pakistan.NS you are adding frustrations to change mongers by giving relief to people.
Everything is just for Punjab. Nawaz funnels all available funds to his brother Shahbaz. The rest,... can fight over the scraps
Coal? What a horrible crime against the environment!
Good work we are confident you can achieve your goals of removing power shortages, fixing security and economy.... that's why people voted for experience instead of IK
@Pakpower Looks like you are trying to read what you want to read and not using any reason/logic whatsoever. What if he means that the chronic problems in power sector will take about a decade to fix fully. I think that is an honest statement. Weather he is the next one or not, he has to take steps (and he is taking steps) that are necessary to eliminate this disaster.
I hear "in the next 8-10 years" a lot from the premier. How haughty of him to assume that he will get another term? Or is he just feeling too secure with his ironclad dhandli culture?