China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) holds great importance for both countries.
Where China’s loans and business investments will bring it profits, Pakistan’s economy might get the industrial boost it needed for a long time.
Electricity production has been the Achilles heel for Pakistan in promoting its industry and economy, however, several new power projects, developed under CPEC, might improve the situation a lot in the coming years.
The projects are divided into two categories. The first one will finish by December 2018 while the next phase will be finished around 2022.
These priority projects will add close to 7,000 MW of electricity to Pakistan’s national grid
The government has not done a good job of marketing the benefits of the projects being undertaken. To help you better understand what CPEC is doing, we have compiled this list for you.
We have split the list into two parts to make it easier to read. The first one will mention projects finishing soon while the other will include projects which might take longer or are still being planned.
While we occasionally hear about a few of the major power generation projects, let’s take a detailed look at how much electricity generation is possible, what will fuel the new power plants, and how long until the power plants are up and running.
Port Qasim Electric Company
By using Supercritical technology, this power plant will have an efficiency of around 42% resulting in a slightly lower price per unit for electricity compared to normal coal power plants.
Sahiwal Power Plant
By using Supercritical technology, this power plant will have an efficiency of around 42% resulting in a slightly lower price per unit and less CO2 emissions for electricity compared to normal coal power plants.
Engro Thar Mine Mouth Power Project
Engro Thar Plant will use subcritical technology so emissions and price per unit will be slightly higher than the first two on the list.
Associated with this plant is the Thar Block II mining pit which will eventually provide the coal for the plant. The project will cost $1.47 billion. It will produce 6.5 metric ton of coal per annum. Work is yet to be started and design process is underway.
HUBCO Coal Power Plant
The power plant will be using Supercritical technology, so lesser price per unit and emissions.
SSRL Mine Mouth Power Project
SSRL Thar Plant will use subcritical technology so unit prices will be slightly higher.
Associated with this plant is the $1.3 billion Thar Block-I mining pit which will eventually fuel the plant. It will produce 6.5 metric ton of coal per annum. The pit is being developed by the same company and will start operating by 2018 or 2019.
Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park
The 2nd and 3rd 100MW phases are currently under testing and will go live soon. There is no estimate on when the project will reach its full potential.
Dawood Wind Farm
It consists of 33 wind turbines, each capable of generating 1.5MW. The turbines were sourced from China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Limited and were jointly developed with the German firm Aerodyn.
The project is already live and the last turbine was installed back in August.
UEP Wind Farm
The project was executed under the supervision of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
Sachal Wind Farm
The project is being executed under the supervision of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
Gaddani/Pakistan Power Park Project
The project fell through when the Chinese backed off because NEPRA’s tariffs weren’t enough for the investors. The government has now announced to build an oil refinery instead of the power park. By the looks of it, the biggest investment under CPEC has been cancelled.
Glossary of Terms
This concludes part 1 of the post regarding the development of CPEC power projects in Pakistan. Stay tuned for the second part of this article which will include even larger electrical projects being developed in Pakistan.
https://propakistani.pk/2016/12/19/need-know-electricity-projects-cpec-part/
Where China’s loans and business investments will bring it profits, Pakistan’s economy might get the industrial boost it needed for a long time.
Electricity production has been the Achilles heel for Pakistan in promoting its industry and economy, however, several new power projects, developed under CPEC, might improve the situation a lot in the coming years.
The projects are divided into two categories. The first one will finish by December 2018 while the next phase will be finished around 2022.
These priority projects will add close to 7,000 MW of electricity to Pakistan’s national grid
The government has not done a good job of marketing the benefits of the projects being undertaken. To help you better understand what CPEC is doing, we have compiled this list for you.
We have split the list into two parts to make it easier to read. The first one will mention projects finishing soon while the other will include projects which might take longer or are still being planned.
While we occasionally hear about a few of the major power generation projects, let’s take a detailed look at how much electricity generation is possible, what will fuel the new power plants, and how long until the power plants are up and running.
Port Qasim Electric Company
- Capacity: 2×660 MW = 1320 MW
- Fuel: Coal (Imported)
- Estimated Development Cost: $1.98 Billion
- Location: Port Qasim, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: First Quarter 2018
By using Supercritical technology, this power plant will have an efficiency of around 42% resulting in a slightly lower price per unit for electricity compared to normal coal power plants.
Sahiwal Power Plant
- Capacity: 2×660 MW = 1320 MW
- Fuel: Coal (Imported)
- Estimated Development Cost: $1.60 Billion
- Location: Sahiwal, Punjab
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: Second Half 2017
By using Supercritical technology, this power plant will have an efficiency of around 42% resulting in a slightly lower price per unit and less CO2 emissions for electricity compared to normal coal power plants.
Engro Thar Mine Mouth Power Project
- Capacity: 4×330 MW = 1320 MW
- Fuel: Coal (Local)
- Estimated Development Cost: $2.00 Billion + $1.47 Billion Associated Cost
- Location: Thar Block-II, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: Late 2018 or early 2019
Engro Thar Plant will use subcritical technology so emissions and price per unit will be slightly higher than the first two on the list.
Associated with this plant is the Thar Block II mining pit which will eventually provide the coal for the plant. The project will cost $1.47 billion. It will produce 6.5 metric ton of coal per annum. Work is yet to be started and design process is underway.
HUBCO Coal Power Plant
- Capacity: 660 MW
- Fuel: Coal (Imported)
- Estimated Development Cost: $1.20 Billion
- Location: Hub, Balochistan
- Tariff: Rs 8.12 per KWh unit
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: Late 2018 or early 2019
The power plant will be using Supercritical technology, so lesser price per unit and emissions.
SSRL Mine Mouth Power Project
- Capacity: 2×660 MW = 1320 MW
- Fuel: Coal (Local)
- Estimated Development Cost: $2.00 Billion + $1.30 Billion Associated Cost
- Location: Thar Block-I, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: Late 2018 or early 2019
SSRL Thar Plant will use subcritical technology so unit prices will be slightly higher.
Associated with this plant is the $1.3 billion Thar Block-I mining pit which will eventually fuel the plant. It will produce 6.5 metric ton of coal per annum. The pit is being developed by the same company and will start operating by 2018 or 2019.
Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park
- Capacity: 1000 MW
- Fuel: Sunlight
- Estimated Development Cost: $1.35 Billion
- Location: Bahawalpur, Punjab
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
The 2nd and 3rd 100MW phases are currently under testing and will go live soon. There is no estimate on when the project will reach its full potential.
Dawood Wind Farm
- Capacity: 50 MW
- Fuel: Wind
- Estimated Development Cost: $125 Million
- Location: Bhambore, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
It consists of 33 wind turbines, each capable of generating 1.5MW. The turbines were sourced from China Ming Yang Wind Power Group Limited and were jointly developed with the German firm Aerodyn.
The project is already live and the last turbine was installed back in August.
UEP Wind Farm
- Capacity: 100 MW
- Fuel: Wind
- Estimated Development Cost: $250 Million
- Location: Jhimpir, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: September 2016. Announcement expected soon.
The project was executed under the supervision of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
Sachal Wind Farm
- Capacity: 50 MW
- Fuel: Wind
- Tariff: $0.16 per unit
- Estimated Development Cost: $134 Million
- Location: Jhimpir, Sindh
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP)
- Estimated Commercial Operation: June 2017
The project is being executed under the supervision of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
Gaddani/Pakistan Power Park Project
- Capacity: 10x660MW = 6600 MW
- Fuel: Coal, Oil, LPG
- Estimated Development Cost: $14.4 Billion
- Location: Gaddani, Balochistan
- Financing: Independent Power Producer (IPP) and Government owned Plants
- Estimated Commercial Operation: Never
The project fell through when the Chinese backed off because NEPRA’s tariffs weren’t enough for the investors. The government has now announced to build an oil refinery instead of the power park. By the looks of it, the biggest investment under CPEC has been cancelled.
Glossary of Terms
- Supercritical technology means operating at very high pressures and temperatures resulting in higher efficiency.
- Subcritical technology was normally used a few decades ago and has lesser efficiency than supercritical one. It operates at slightly lower temperature and pressure.
This concludes part 1 of the post regarding the development of CPEC power projects in Pakistan. Stay tuned for the second part of this article which will include even larger electrical projects being developed in Pakistan.
https://propakistani.pk/2016/12/19/need-know-electricity-projects-cpec-part/