1,230MW RLNG project: government upbeat about commercial operation by February 2018

The government is optimistic that commercial operation of 1,230MW combined Haveli Bahadar Shah RLNG project would be achieved in February 2018 after testing and commissioning of the project gas turbines and completion of other works in 2017. Sources said Haveli Bahadar Shah is among the projects that are expected to be completed within give timeframe and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been regularly reviewing their progress.
The completion of the project is critical for adding planned addition of 10,000 MW to the National Grid before the end of present government's tenure. Of the Rs 30.920 billion PSDP allocation for the project in 2015-16, Rs 22.500 billion have been released on different accounts. The total cost of the project is Rs 98.104 billion and the first letter of credit of $188 million (off-shore) and Rs 4.816 billion (on-shore) was issued in November 2015 and the second LC of $212 million and Rs 5.418 billion was issued on May 2016. The testing and commissioning of gas Turbine-1 is scheduled to be completed in March 2017 and second gas turbine in April 2017.
Commercial operation of simple cycle is expected in May-June 2017 and combined cycle in February 2018. The planned commissioning and testing of cooling water system is in January 2017 and a steam turbine in December 2017. The government also claims saving of Rs 2.997 billion in cost of the project on various account; (i) Rs 200 million insurance cost saving due to better rate negotiations; (ii) Rs 43 million on LC commission; (iii) Rs 100 million foreign exchange stability; (iv) Rs 332 million insurance cost deferred to next year due to installments; (v) Rs620 million on account of spur pipeline cost deferred due to installments; (vi) Rs122 million saving on spur gas pipeline cost; (vii) Rs 133 million security payment deferred and; (viii) Initial Dependable Capacity (IDC) payment to federal government deferred to next year. The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy on August 29 and decided that he himself would be paying onsite visits to ongoing power projects and Haveli Bahadar Shah project as well to ensure their timely completion.