The Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) on Tuesday approved Thar coal-based power generation project of 1400 MW (350 MW each) to be set up at Thar by Shanghai Electric Group Company of China. This is the second Thar coal-based IPP approved by the PPIB Board, first being 660 MW Engro Power Project.
The development of Thar coal resource will provide a major breakthrough to develop huge generation capacity using cheap local coal. This project is one of the ‘prioritized projects’ included in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and would start generation in 2017-18.
The approval was granted in the 101st board meeting of PPIB held here on Tuesday with Federal Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif in the chair. The board also approved signing of MOU between the PPIB, China Three Gorges Corporation and Silk Road Fund, China, for development of private hydropower projects in Pakistan. The Silk Road Fund is a development fund newly created by the government of China with its main focus on infrastructure and energy development as well as industrial and road initiatives, whereas China Three Gorges is already developing three hydropower projects in Pakistan namely 720 MW Karot, 1100 MW Kohala and 590 MW Mahl on Jhelum River and interested in undertaking more power projects.
To facilitate the power projects initiated by provinces/AJ&K/Gilgit-Baltistan, the Board also approved standardized Tri-Partite Letter of Support. The Board granted approval for issuance of LOS to 150 MW coal-based power project at Arifwala, 1200 MW coal fired projects at Sahiwal, 1320 MW imported coal-fired projects at Port Qasim and 1320 MW imported-coal fired projects at Hub, Balochistan. Ongoing private power projects were also discussed in the meeting in context to the overall electricity situation in the country. The minister directed the PPIB to facilitate the investors and ensure timely completion of the ongoing projects. He stated that the progress of the all projects both new and ongoing should be reviewed regularly so that they may not face any difficulty.
