KARACHI: A Chinese world famed company, Chinese Power International Holding will set up ten coal fired power plants of 660 MW each, making total 6600 MW, at Thar coal fields ; with total estimated investment of dollars 7.2 billion.
A memorandum of understanding was earlier inked between China Power International Holding and the Sindh Government for these power plants. Signatory to this MOU were SECMC and Global Mining Company (GMC)/ Sino Sindh Resources (SSR).
Coal will be supplied by SECMC and GMC/SSR from Blocks I and II of Thar coal fields.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, during a press conference here at the Chief Minister House on Monday on his return from his visit to China, said many Chinese companies showed their interest to invest in Pakistan especially in Sindh.
He informed the Chinese investors that his Government was creating an enabling environment for potential investors in developing infrastructure, coal mining, coal and wind power generation in the province. Thar coal fields have estimated reserves of 175 billion tons. These reserves could be utilised to produce 100,000 MW of power for many decades.
He also informed that public private partnership had been initiated through an international competitive bidding process to ensure fast track development of Thar coal.
He assured on behalf of the government of the provision of requisite infrastructure adding that the investors would find Thar as an exceptionally peaceful area.
The Chief Minister, giving the details of his 5-day visit to China-- Sichuan province's capital Chengdu and China's capital Beijing- said his Government sought Chinese investment in development of Thar Coal mining and coal- based power generation, development of Wind Corridor and technical assistance in modernising agriculture.
The Chief Minister visited Chengdu to participate in the 14th Western China International Fair on invitation of Governor Sichuan, Wei Hong.
Sichuan province has a strong economy with a GDP of dollars 383 billion. It has robust agriculture, water management, strong mining technology coupled with high tech industry in Chengdu.
Sichuan province Governor, Wei Hong assured all possible support to Sindh Government for collaboration in Thar Coal mining, coal and wind based power generation and establishment of an industrial zone in Sindh.
Sichuan Governor and Deputy Secretary General of Chinese Communist Party, Li Jiaguo accepted his invitation and assured to visit Sindh province, said Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah witnessed the signing ceremony of 249.6 MW Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contract signed between NBT Wind Power Pakistan II, a subsidiary of NBT Pakistan Holding (Pvt) Ltd of Singapore (NBT) and Harbin Electric International to build the largest wind farm in Pakistan using 156 units of 1.6 MW wind turbines made in China.
NBT is developing 650 MW of wind farms in the wind corridor of Sindh.
NBT, Harbin Electric International and GE are working jointly with a bank syndicate on project financing for this wind farm. The EPC contract includes 5 years of operation and maintenance services to wind turbines.
The wind farm would have a construction time of two years and will bring much needed clean, renewable electricity to help alleviate the power crisis in Pakistan. It is estimated that the wind farm will produce approximately 700 gigawatts per year upon completion.
The Chief Minister said he also visited the Hi-tech Industrial Zone in Chengdu which ranks 5th among the 53 national hi-tech zones in China in terms of comprehensive strength.
The Chief Minister visited the state owned Sichuan Textile Import Export Corp where he invited Chinese Textile Companies to set up textile units in case of relocation to the Textile City, being developed in the industrial area of Port Qasim.
The Director General Textile informed that cotton and textile related trade between Pakistan and Sichuan is not as per its potential and needs to be augmented.
The Chief Minister invited them to Karachi which is a major hub of textile units and assured them of maximum support for boosting trade ties between the two regions and find out avenues for mutual cooperation between Sichuan Textile Import & Export Corp and APTMA.
Various Business Groups of Sichuan province called on the Chief Minister which included Changhong Electric Co., New Hope Dairy and Biomass Institute of Ministry of Agriculture.
The Chief Minister invited the business houses to explore investment opportunities that the province offers and undertake investment in Sindh.
M/s. Changhong informed that they already have an assembly unit in Pakistan and are considering to expand their product and would positively consider Sindh as a destination for their expansion project.
The Chief Minister informed BIOMA that Sindh province has great potential for developing biogas- based energy which is a cost effective solution for providing electricity in the rural areas. He suggested that BIOMA showed interest in collaborating with Agriculture University Tando Jam to provide an institutional platform for the purpose.
He informed that the Government is already pursuing two projects namely Landhi Cattle Colony Biogas Project and Agro-waste to Energy project in Khairpur.
The Chief Minister Sindh had a meeting with the president of Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) and his top management in his head office in Chengdu. The DEC is one of the leading companies having expertise in power generation through hydel, tidal, wind, solar and coal resources.
Besides, this company is leading in the production of machinery and equipment related to the production of electricity.
In the meeting, the president of DEC, Si Zefu acknowledged the potential and resources in Sindh available for the production of power and showed immense interest in the investment in Sindh province particularly in the production of electricity by hydel, solar, wind and coal resources.
The president of DEC accepted the offer of the CM Sindh to send a delegation to visit Sindh and to come to an agreement for the mining of one of the blocks of Thar coal and to generate power from the coal after mining.
The CM Sindh appreciated the DEC for the establishment of Lakhra power plant, Ghazi Barotha plant and Nandipur power plant.
In an another meeting with the chairman of Sichuan Hejia Seed Industry Co, Ltd; the CM Sindh was briefed about the initiatives taken by the company for the development and introduction of hybrid seeds in wheat, rice, cotton and different fruits.
The company showed interest in the joint venture in research and development, establishment of controlled- atmosphere cold storages and upgradation of agriculture labs in Sindh.
The CM Sindh invited the delegation of the company to visit Sindh for detailed deliberation and future joint venture in the different areas of hybrid seeds production, training to farmers for high yield and collaboration with private stake holders for establishment of controlled atmosphere cold storages at Agro Export Processing Zone in Karachi.
He said in Larkana, successful experiment of Chinese rice seed has been carried out which doubled the rice yield to 80 maunds per acre of land from 40 maunds.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah also met Chairman of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) Sun Bai who showed keen interest in the development of Thar coal, power, wind power and infrastructure projects in Sindh province and said that his company had rich experience of accomplishing such projects.
He committed to send high powered delegation to Sindh for future development in establishment of power plant at Keti Bandar and Jetty.
Sindh Chief Minister was assisted by Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister on Finance and Development Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Secretaries of Finance and Development, and Coal.
Comments
Comments are closed.