ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China Power company inked agreements of 1320 MW coal-fired power plant that will be established in Hub, Balochistan, and 330 MW in Thar, Sindh.
Two coal-fired power plants having a capacity of 1650 MW will be under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Documents relating to power purchase agreement and implementation agreement were signed in Islamabad on Wednesday among China Power Hub Generation Company (HUBCO) and Private Power Infrastructure Board. Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif, who was present on the occasion termed these projects a major milestone. He said the construction work on 1320 MW power plant in Hub has already begun and these two projects will be completed in 2019. This is demonstrative of the fact that the government is fully implementing projects to be completed after its present tenure keeping in view the future requirements of energy. The minister said that the Government is giving preference to use local coal from Thar for generating cheap electricity. He said these projects will open up a new chapter in the energy sector and in the coming years, Thar will be the centre of energy supply.
To a question, he said electricity shortfall has been decreased as a result of government measures and the demand, supply gap is narrowing down day by day. Khawaja Asif said over 100 MW of electricity is being generated through alternate energy sources.
He said that the construction work on Diamir Bhasha Dam will start this year. He said Munda Dam is also being revived and work on it will also start in the current year. Besides, he said work on small dams is going on particularly in Balochistan to preserve rainy water.