The Turkish Company, KARKEY's second 'Powership Alican Bey' has arrived in Karachi in a bid to support efforts of the government to overcome energy crisis in the country. An official of the company told this scribe here on Monday that the total installed capacity of the project would be 330MWs as compared to the contract capacity of 232 MWs, providing an additional 98MWs capacity.
In case of any major shortfall in coming summer, the additional capacity would be instrumental in meeting the power needs of industrial sectors and manufacturing units of Karachi. On November 17, 2010 the world's largest Powership "Kaya Bey" (Ship mounted power plant) of KARKEY arrived at Karachi. Recently, the second power ship has also reached Karachi providing additional capacity to the project.
Under 'POWER OF FRIENDSHIP POWER OF BROTHERHOOD' project and in demonstration of solidarity of Turkish investors with their brothers in Pakistan KARKEY has dedicated an impressive installed capacity of a total 330 MWs to Pakistan out of its worldwide fleet of Powerships.
Company official said that a specialized submersible vessel from Singapore (MV STX Rose 1) had arrived outside the port of Karachi carrying the second 'KARADENIZ POWERSHIP ALICAN BEY' (Barge Mounted Power Plant) along with a supporting work floating platform (deck barge required for the commissioning operation of the plants).
He said that the first power ship 'KAYA BEY' had reached its final destination in Korangi ,Karachi and all equipment which had been fastened and stored in sea tight conditions to avoid any technical problems during the sailing through the high waves in the open sea were deployed and commissioned swiftly by hundreds of expat and local contractors of KARKEY.
In the meantime the 132kV interconnection line between KARADENIZ POWERSHIP KAYA BEY and Karachi's tallest tower was commissioned in parallel to KARKEY's technical experts commissioning and preparing the generator sets. KARKEY, which had completed its tests and preparations, has dispatched a net electricity over 110 MWs this Saturday on January 29, 2011 as an initial batch but had to wait for the completion of administrative procedures related to PEPCO and other relevant authorities to go up to full capacity, official stated.
While waiting for the completion of certain procedures of the various authorities of the Government of Pakistan to achieve full COD, KARKEY has also offered to deliver free electricity only for cost of fuel from the already commissioned parts of the POWERSHIPs to contribute to the Power generation in Karachi and assist in the relief of the power shortages in the fastest possible way.
The KARKEY Powership Rental Project is expected to allow government of Pakistan savings of upto Rs 6 billion a year (Rs 2.5-3 billion savings from fuel transport costs and about Rs 3 billion in savings by elimination electricity transmission losses from upcountry to Karachi as well as providing additional secure generation capacity to Karachi and subsequently to the rest of the country.
"The Pakistan Powership project started by signing a contract for the supply of 232MW with Pakistan (GENCO IV / PEPCO - Pakistan Electric Power Company) after winning an international competitive bid announced by PPIB - Private Power Infrastructure Board for the supply of power to Karachi on a base load basis," company official added. The Letter of Award was issued to the qualified bidder based on the technical experience, technical ability to achieve the project and the financial criteria required, official of the company added.