CPEC related energy projects to produce 17,000 MW in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Some 17,045 megawatts of energy would be generated by the help of energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the country, official sources said on Tuesday.

The CPEC energy projects would not only help overcome the existing energy crisis in Pakistan but would also produce surplus power to benefit in the future.

Giving details of these projects, they informed that as many as 1,100-megawatt electricity generated through these projects would be included in the national grid by the end of 2016.

In 2017, they said about 1,650-megawatt electricity would be included in the system of power lines of the country while projects of 3,270-megawatt capacity would be operational by 2018.

Additional projects of 2,250-megawatt power would be completed after 2018, claimed the official sources and added, the government had already initiated work on many of the aforementioned projects, the majority of which would be completed by 2018.

Currently, work on the 1,320 megawatt Coal Fired Power Project in Sahiwal, and the 1,320 megawatt Port Qasim Coal Project was underway to produce 660-megawatt electricity by 2017, and the remaining 660-megawatt would be ready for consumption by 2018, they added.

Similarly, work on the 600-megawatt Engro Thar Coal Project was also in progress to generate 300-megawatt power by 2017 and additional 300-megawatt by 2018, according to them.

Sources also confirmed that work on the 1,320-megawatt Qadirabad Coal Project, currently ongoing, would include 660-megawatt electricity in the national grid by 2017 while the remaining 660-megawatt would be included in the system by 2018.

Electricity of 300 transmission system would be added to the grid system from Salt Range Mine Mouth Power Project by end of 2018 while the Hubco would give 660-megawatt by 2018.

Work on Thar Block-I was recently started, they told, which was likely to create 660-megawatt power by 2018 and additional 660-megawatt after that.

The 1,000 megawatt Quaid-i-Azam Solar Part in Bahawalpur and the 250-megawatt Wind Power Plant in Sindh would start generating power this year.

Likewise, the 720-megawatt Krote Hydro Power Project and the 870-megawatt Sukhi Kinaru Hydro Power projects of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) would be launched after 2018.

They said many other energy projects were also part of the CPEC but would be initiated only after 2018, the election year in Pakistan.

Other than the CPEC energy projects China has invested in other energy projects including the Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project, to generate 969-megawatt.

Chashma Nuclear Extension Project would include 340-megawatt in the national grid this year while another chunk of 340-megawatt would be added in 2017.