Punjab cabinet says ‘yes’ to 1,180mw gas power plant

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Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of the provincial cabinet, which unanimously approved the 1,180-megawatt gas power plant project to be set up in Bhikki, Sheikhupura.

The project will be undertaken by the Punjab government with its own resources.

Addressing the meeting, the CM said that the federal government is setting up two gas power plants of 1,200 megawatts each in Haveli Bahadar Shah Jhang and Baloki. The provincial government is also establishing a gas power plant of 1,180 megawatt in Bhikki, Sheikhupura with its own resources, which will be a milestone for the country. He said that the project would prove to be a trendsetter in removing shortage of electricity from the country.

Sharif said that the production of 363 megawatts of electricity will start from a single cycle turbine from March 2017 whereas with the operation of a second single turbine in April 2017, 363 megawatt more electricity will be produced.

Similarly, he said, a total of 1,180 megawatts of electricity will be available through combined stream gas turbine in December 2017. The CM said that gas turbines based on latest technology would be used for the project. The capacity of the project will be 61.59 per cent whereas the capacity of turbines of gas-based project in the past was 54 per cent.

He said that compared to similar gas-based project set up in Pakistan, engineering, procurement and construction cost of the project at Bhikki, Sheikhupura is only $539 million, which is very low. He said that while ensuring highest standard and transparency, the Punjab government has minimised the cost to $460,000 per megawatt, which is very low compared to similar projects.  The CM further said that all matters relating to Bhikki Sheikhupura gas power project have been disposed of speedily and transparently and a sum of Rs 120 billion has practically been saved in all three projects to be set up in Punjab.

He said that saving of billions of rupees in the projects of gas power plants is a big success of PML-N government while NEPRA is also decreasing its tariff due to reduction in the EPC cost of gas power plants project by Punjab government in Bhikki.

He said that all issues have been settled with Federal Ministry of Petroleum with regard to uninterrupted supply of gas for the powerhouses in Sheikhupura. He said that due to setting up of gas, coal, and solar-based power projects, the monopoly of oil mafia since the last sixty years would also be eliminated.

Sharif said that the process of acquisition of land for the project has been completed and this project has paved the way for setting up of similar gas-based projects in the province. He said that the matters relating to cooperation and maintenance of the project have also been settled. The CM further said that work on the project was started in March 2015 and within a short period of six months, the issues relating to giving the practical shape to the project were dealt with speedily and transparently which was possible only through hard work and commitment.

Sharif also constituted a committee to review Punjab Epidemic Diseases Control Amendment Bill 2014 and directed the committee to submit final recommendations within next few days. He said that there is a need of vigorous awareness campaign for eradication of dengue. He said that Punjab government has made awareness campaigns against dengue a part of syllabus, however, concerned institutions will have to play an active role to help cope with this menace.