Mobilising and generating affordable and environment-friendly energy resources is one of the key challenges for any nation in todays world. Today the top priority for Pakistan is Energy and Power Generation. Presently, out of around 162 million population of Pakistan, only 65-70% has access to electricity.
Our country is currently facing power shortages of approximately 2500-3000 MW. The present electricity demand-supply gap, coupled with consistent growth in demand clearly indicates the fundamental need for enhancing the countrys current power generation capability. Inauguration of Attock Gen Limited power of 165 MW is great news for all Pakistanis, but at the same time it underlines the urgent need for accelerating our efforts for the development of indigenous energy resources so that supply can keep pace with growing demand.
As we all know electricity is the prime mover for the growth of the economy. The economic growth of recent years has brought tremendous improvement in the industrial and social sectors. However, the sustenance of the same is more important which will not be possible without adequate power resources. Already, the country is experiencing serious power shortages, which reveals the gravity of the situation.
It is expected that demand will exceed supply by about 5,500 MW in the year 2010. Conservative projection forecast is 10% annual increase in demand over the next 25 years. The Projections indicate that under a normal economic growth the electricity demand on a national level will double in the next ten years. Additionally some of the old thermal generating plants need to be replaced.
True to its heritage of being pioneers and pacesetters and keeping the national interests supreme in all its endeavours, the Attock Group of Companies rose to the occasion by conceiving a 165 MW fuel oil fired thermal power plant at Morgah, Rawalpindi and a special purpose company by the name of Attock Gen Limited (AGL) was incorporated. Based on the available fuel, a detailed feasibility was conducted and approved by the Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB).
Wartsila Finland one to the leading reciprocating engine powered power plant manufacturer, was the Engineering, procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project. The electricity generated is being supplied to National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) under a Power Purchase Agreement ("PPA").
AGL plant with gross capacity of 165 mw has been designed in a manner to achieve maximum efficiency. The Plant configuration consists of 9 reciprocating 16.5 MW furnace oil fired engine generator sets and 9 heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) to provide stream for one 11.6 MW condensing stream turbine.
The concept of 9 engines plus one steam turbine improves the reliability as well as the efficiency of the project. Also, from a maintenance perspective the said configuration is very flexible as most of the maintenance work related to any unit can be conducted during normal operation without interference with the power production of the other units.
NEPRA has determined for AGL, a reference levelized tariff which comprises of a typical two-part tariff structure with reference energy purchase price which covers fuel and other variable costs for the energy actually dispatched and a capacity purchase price for other fixed costs and return on equity based on the available capacity for 25 years.
The approved tariff is very competitive as is evident from the recent tariff determinations for the similar technology power projects. From the very start, AGL was determined and committed to move on a fast track basis. By the Grace of Allah, AGL is the fist IPP to be commissioned today after a gap of over 9 years.
This would not have been possible without the investment friendly, progressive and dynamic policies of the government, the support extended to AGL by PPIB, NEPRA, PEPCO and the Ministry of Water & Power, the dedication and hard work of the excellent team of professionals at AGL and above all the personal commitment and support of Dr Ghaith R. Pharaon, Chairman, Attock Group and Mr Shuaib A. Malik, Group Regional Chief Executive of the Attock Group. It is hoped that AGLs power project, the first oil based power plant under Poer Policy 2002, to be commissioned today shall serve as a role model for others to follow.
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