Third RLNG-fired IPP likely to commence operations very soon

Pakistan''s third RLNG-fired Independent Power Project (IPP) of 1223MW has been completed and expected to start its commercial operations in the last week of the current month. According to a spokesperson for Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), the project located in Balloki, district Kasur, was initiated in 2015 and completed in less than three years, showing close coordination and support among all the stakeholders who made efforts to materialize it in time.
The sponsor of the project, National Power Parks Management Company Limited, Ministry of Energy (Power Division) started the construction activities of this state of the art combined cycle plant in November 2015 at a cost of 798.183 million US dollars. PPIB issued an LOI and an LOS for development of the project. The power plant has been constructed with General Electric world class multi shaft H Frame Combined Cycle Gas Turbines which ensures highest efficiency of 61.63 % and reduces fuel cost and CO2 emission over the life of the plant. Harbin Electric International was its EPC contractor with other Chinese and local contractors.
After completion of this project, this will be 38th IPP processed and developed by PPIB so far with a total power generation capacity of 16,723MW. As far as R-LNG fuel based power projects are concerned, PPIB has processed a total of four power projects namely 1230MW at Haveli Bahadar Shah District Jhang, 1180MW at Bhikki district Sheikhupura, 1223 MW at Balloki district Kasur and 1263MW at Trimmu Barrage District Jhang. Two out of these four projects of 2410MW located at Bhikki and Haveli Bahadar Shah have already been completed and linked to the national grid. Third project at Balloki (Kasur) has also been completed and is likely to start its commercial operation in the last week of the current month while fourth RLNG-based project 0f 1263MW at Trimmu Barrage, Jhang will be completed in December 2018.
PPIB is making all out efforts to complete the ongoing private power projects of multiple fuels to meet the future power requirements of the country and to produce reliable and affordable electricity. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has already started investigating the RLNG and coal-fired power plants established by the former government. But has decided not to arrest any politician due to general elections scheduled to be held on July 25.