By AHMAD AHMADANI
The government is mulling on alternate options to operationalise two RLNG (Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas) power plants in Haveli Bahadur Shah and Balloki as General Electric Co (GE) has not kept up with its commitment of timely deliverance of gas turbines, Pakistan Today has learnt on Saturday.
Official documents available with this scribe revealed that delivery of gas turbines by the General Electric Co. (GE) for two RLNG (Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas) power plants in Haveli Bahadur Shah and Balloki had been delayed by approximately 3-4 months. Therefore, operationalisation of these projects would not be possible before summer 2017. And, as per new timelines, completion of the 1st units of Haveli Bahadur Shah and Balloki power plants would be achievable before August 2017, the documents said.
Official sources on the condition of anonymity said that the government completed all formalities, but GE failed to keep up their commitment for delivery of gas turbines. They said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had expressed concerns over delay in the project and enquired about alternate proposals offered by the GE. “At present, the government is mulling on how much improvement can be achieved in the current project (in terms of time). There is a possibility that two out of four turbines might arrive by May or June, 2017,” sources said.
The sources also told that in a meeting between the Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and GE, the former expressed his displeasure over delays in the project and urged the latter to strictly follow their committed delivery timeline.
They said that chief executive officer (CEO) of National Power Company has visited France to pursue with the agenda of supply of the gas turbines within the given timeline. “Detailed meetings have been held with the GE which offered alternate proposals. However, none of those met the government’s criteria,” sources said.
It is worth mentioning that privatisation of these two RLNG power plants was discussed as alternate option to operationalise these two power projects. The government is eager to make these two power projects operational before the expiry of its constitutional tenure.