Sindh

Turkish power ship inaugurated

Federal power minister says no additional charges to be added to electricity bills to pay for rental power ship.

Express November 21, 2010

KARACHI: Federal Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Sunday announced that no additional charges will added to electricity bills once the Turkish power ship starts contributing to the power grid.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony the power ship, Kaya Bey, he said that the government was aware of the current power crisis and that the rental power ship will aid in reducing the current shortfall.

He also said that the government was building dams to generate cheap electricity, as electricity produced with furnace oil was expensive.

The Kaya Bey, which is the world’s largest marine power-generating plant, arrived at Karachi Port on November 19, after a 12-day journey from Tuzla port of Turkey. The arrival of the rental plant is the result of an agreement inked between the governments of Pakistan and Turkey three years ago.

It is temporarily anchored at Karachi Port Trust’s berth Nos. 4 and 5 and it is likely to start generating electricity from next month.

The ship will be permanently docked between the Korangi Thermal Power Station and Jamot Jetty on November 24.

The rental power plant has a power-generation capacity of 232 megawatts (MW), 220MW of which will be supplied to different areas of the city through Korangi Thermal Power Station. Pepco and the Karachi Electric Supply Company have completed arrangements needed to set up the network, including the testing of the process and system through which electricity would be supplied.

Once this rental power plant starts functioning, Wapda will cut down 220MW of the 600MW that it used to supply Karachi.

COMMENTS (13)

Yasser | 14 years ago | Reply 16 Rs Per Unit RPP electricity will instigate people to steal more electricity if economic and common man income situation stayed in same doldrums. More Crisis for Govt of Pakistan then.

dr azhar | 14 years ago | Reply raja pervaiz ashraf is not a trust worthy person.he already natorious because of his promises. the price of unit has increased by 95% last year. this rpp unit is 27 years old. the rent which government of pakistan would have to pay is 45 billion rupees for five years, the cost of furnace oil is not included in this estimate. this project is not suitable as very good means of electricity production are available like coal ,wind and hydral. after the lapse of three years ,government cant blame the previous governments.

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A Suhail | 14 years ago | Reply Oh stop complaining all of you. The per unit cost is 15-16 rupees but it will help with the industrial shutdown in Karachi which is happening quite frequently for the last two years. This will make sure that industries are running and hourly workers have jobs to do. There is no magic wand which this government can use to generate electricity. Electricity from china???? are you kidding me they do not have enough electricity for themselves in china and they will give some to us. For a minute if we imagine that Chinese can provide electricity to us, it will take few years to setup electricity pillars and grid stations on the Pakistan side and most of it will be over the mountain and the cost might get prohibitive if we use this avenue to supply electricity to industrial sector in Sindh and Punjab. For the time being we have no other solution than this so lets not criticize this government for criticism sake. Our best bet is wind and solar energy but private sector has to take a lead on it. And yes someone smart dude might throw in how about Iran?? Well same issue pillars and grid stations need to be setup and in Baluchistan where most of the people are really * and they take pride in blowing up electricity pillars and stations for fun. So lets enjoy what we got and shut up!!

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply The electricity tariff compared to the last few years have been increased by 100%. The nation does not trust any more Raja Pervez Ashraf who has been misleading electricity consumers of the country time and again. The Turkish Power Ship will be useful for Karachiites when KESC will stop load-shedding once and for all and will provide electricity without any interruption during the entire year.

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply I never get why our politicians make statements like, "there will be no increase in electricity bills". The power station uses furnace oil; if oil prices increase in the international market will the government still keep the prices fixed and perpetuate circular debt? They should be pragmatic and realist and stop searching for sound bites. Making another promise, knowing very well that they cant keep it lends to claims of corruption and poor governance.

RG | 14 years ago | Reply Just need to know how long is this ship going to dock at the Karachi port...seems like a very short term thing to me...

Mr. Ten Percent | 14 years ago | Reply Why can't we buy extremely cheap electricity from China? That's because we owe god-load of money to IMF since we don't have enough money to support the royal lifestyle of our ministers (public servants). Why do we have to use this RPP on a ship? That's because these ministers have taken big lumps of kickbacks in this case as well. Bravo!!!

The Only Normal Person Here. | 14 years ago | Reply I dont know whether I am happy or I am sad.

Mr Khappay | 14 years ago | Reply What about the outdated/over priced FO fueled rental power plants already in the country

Shakeel Iqbal | 14 years ago | Reply The current power crisis is because of previous governments and current government is also not handling this issue professionally. Anyhow it would be good for the masses of Karachi. It is not a good solution to overcome the problem. Government should take steps for permanent solution of this major issue.

Akhtar Ali Kureshi Advocate | 14 years ago | Reply Amazing outlook enjoys the aforesaid ship but only 232 MW electricity will be supplied which is not impressive because we need about 3000 MW shortfall, this tiny RPP is not in position to fulfill our need and electricity produced by it will be highly expensive and not affordable.

stone age | 14 years ago | Reply we can get costly ships from turkey but dosnt use our coal mines for electric city.. lack of professionalism...

Hafiz shah Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Does any one know the cost per unit: it is ~18 cents per unit. This is as compared to 4-5 cents per unit from hydel power. When will this be operational, since the requisite connection etc to the 132 KV/220 KV grid has not been finalized to best of information. Once this becomes operational.,WAPDA will reduce supply to Karachi by equal amount................

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