Power ship to start electric supply next month

Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping says power ship will start producing 220 megawatts of power within next month.

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri has said that the power ship which arrived in Karachi from Turkey will start producing 220 megawatts of power within the next month while another ship with a capacity of generating 132 megawatts will arrive in two months.

Talking to journalists at the Karachi Port on Friday, he said that the power ship will play an important role in helping overcome the power crisis in the country.

Ghauri declined providing any details of the terms of the agreement and the tariff, saying that it was a gift to Karachi.

A welcome ceremony for the rental power house titled ‘Power of Friendship’ is due on November 21.

Currently, the power ship is anchored at the Karachi Port; however, it will be shifted to Port Qasim soon.

The federal minister said that only hydro power produced through dams can provide cheap electricity and in its absence rental power projects will prove to  be a relief. He insisted that the construction work on non-controversial dams should start immediately.

Ghauri denied rumours that power supply from Wapda to Karachi will be reduced after this power plant becomes operative.

He also added that the ship will set anchor in Korangi Creek on November 24 where it will be linked to Korangi’s main line.

The chief of the Turk company said that the plant has a capacity of storing 3,000 tons of furnace oil and a life of 26 years. He added that the people of Karachi will be the first users of the electricity produced by the plant, which has been hired for five years.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2010.