Under CPEC: around Rs 18.5 billion to be spent on providing power to nine SEZs

A total of Rs 13.123 billion is required in funds to provide utilities including 880.3MW electricity and 393.5 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas to seven Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the current year 2020.

According to documents available with the Business Recorder, approximately Rs 18.5 billion will be incurred on provision of power to nine SEZs under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The Power Division has prepared a comprehensive plan in consultation with provincial governments for provision of uninterrupted electricity to the industrial zones.

The PC-I has been prepared by the Power Division and Rs 1.4 billion already earmarked in the Public Sector development Programme (PSDP) 2019-2020.

Board of Investment (BoI) is prioritizing the power supply to the SEZs in consultation with the Power Division and the SEZ developers.

At least 320 MW of electricity is required for M-3 Industrial City Faisalabad, while 40 MW is available.

A total of 155.5 MW of electricity is required for Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Karachi as just 4.5 MW is available.

Likewise, a total of 237.8MW of electricity is required for Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park, Sheikhupura, while only 2.2 MW is available. TwoMW of electricity is required for Korangi Creek Industrial Park, Karachi and 1.5 MW is available.

Electricity is not available to Hattar Special Economic Zone, while 160 MW power is required for it.

A total of 100 mmcfd gas is required for M-3 Industrial City, Faisalabad, 16 mmcfd for Value Addition City, Faisalabad, 65 mmcfd for Quaid-e-Azam Apparel Park, Sheikupura, 3.5 mmcfd for Khairpur Special Economic Zone, nine mmcfd for Korangi Creek Industrial park, Karachi, 10 mmcfd gas for Bin Qasim Industrial Park, Karachi, 20 mmcfd for Hattar Special Economic Zone, 30 mmcfd for Rashakai SEZ, Nowshera KP, 125 mmcfd for Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate M-3, Faisalabad, and 15 mmcfd gas for China Special Economic Zone Dhabeji, Thatta.

General incentives of utilities for SEZs, gas, electricity and others would be provided at the zero-point of the zones.

Captive power generation is permissible to developers of the zones.