QUETTA: (Parliament Times) Â Two coal fired power plants having capacity of 1650 MW will be set up in Hub, Balochistan and Thar, Sindh under China Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Documents relating to Power Purchase Agreement and Implementation Agreement were signed in Islamabad today among China Power Hub Generation Company, HUBCO and Private Power Infrastructure Board.
Under the agreements, 1320 MW coal fired power plant will be established in Hub, Balochistan and 330 MW in Thar, Sindh.
Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif who was present on the occasion termed these projects a major milestone.
He said construction work on 1320 MW power plant in Hub has already begun and these two projects will be completed in 2019. This is demonstrative of the fact that the Government is fully implementing projects to be completed after its present tenure keeping in view the future requirements of energy.
The Minister said the Government is giving preference to use local coal from Thar for generating cheap electricity. He said these projects will open up new chapter in the energy sector and in the coming years Thar will be the centre of energy supply. These projects will prove to be pilot projects as Thar coal will be opened up.
To a question, he said electricity shortfall has been decreased as a result of Government measures and the demand, supply gap is narrowing down day by day.
Khawaja Asif said over one hundred MW of electricity is being generated through alternate energy sources.
About Nandipur Power Plant, he said it has been generating 430 MW of electricity since last week and is running on full capacity.
He said the plant is being converted to gas after which it will start generating 525 MW of electricity by May this year.
Answering a question, Khawaja Asif said construction work on Diamir Bhasha Dam will start this year. He said Munda Dam is also being revived and work on it will start this year. Besides, he said work on small dams are going on particularly in Balochistan to preserve rainy water.
The Minister said a National Water Policy covering all dimensions will be announced in a few weeks.