KARACHI: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has granted power generation licence to Punjab Thermal Power (Pvt) Limited (PTPL) for its imported re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG)-based thermal power plant in Jhang. The PTPL is wholly owned company of the government of Punjab (GoP) incorporated to act as an independent power producer (IPP) to set up a combined cycle power project of 1,263.20MW (net 1,242.70 MW) on RLNG as the primary fuel and HSD as back-up fuel located near Haveli Bahadur Shah / Trimmu Barrage, Jhang. It is pertinent to mention that the government of Punjab already owns and operates a RLNG combined cycle power plant (CCPP) at Bhikki, Sheikhupura. Earlier, the NEPRA had determined and approved the generation tariff for PTPL for its 1,242.70MW (net) power project on RLNG and 1,081.80 MW (net) on HSD in Jhang for combined cycle operations and simple cycle operation on RLNG for delivery of electricity to the power purchaser. In a determination, the NEPRA sanctioned 30-year levelised tariff on combined cycle operation at Rs 5.90 per unit. It also approved the HSD as alternative fuel for the same plant and set its tariff at Rs 11.16 per unit. The regulator approved Rs 9.30 per unit tariff on simple cycle operation. The electric power from the proposed generation facility / Thermal Power Plant of PTPL will be dispersed to the system of NTDC at 220 and 132 kV levels while the commercial operation date (COD) of the proposed generation facility/thermal power plant will be March 31, 2020, and it will have a useful life of more than 30 years from its COD. The NEPRA fixes the term of the generation license to 30 years from COD of the project. Siemens will supply a complete power island solution for the proposed power plant. The deal is valued at around 200 million euros under which Siemens’ highly-efficient H-Class gas turbines will be installed in Pakistan. The power plant is expected to increase power generation capacity in Pakistan by approximately 1.3GW and provide a much-needed boost to the national grid. Running on liquefied natural gas, the power plant will be built as a CCPP. Siemens will supply a power island solution, comprising two SGT5-8000H gas turbines, SST-5000 steam turbine, two heat recovery steam generators, control systems and related auxiliaries. Siemens will also be responsible for engineering, project management and associated site services. Published in Daily Times, February 17th 2018.