Wikipedia

Port Qasim Power Project

The 1,320 megawatt Port Qasim Power Project comprises two 660 megawatt supercritical coal power plants, one of which was inaugurated in December 2016 as part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.[1] The $2.09 billion project is located on 330.7 acres at Port Qasim, 37 kilometers east of Karachi in Sindh Province.[2][3] The project is part of a group of 14 energy projects which fall under the fast-tracked "Early Harvest" program of the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor project.[4]

Port Qasim Power Project
Map
Location of the Port Qasim Power Project in Sindh province.
CountryPakistan
LocationPort Qasim, Sindh
Coordinates24°47′07″N 67°22′10″E / 24.7854°N 67.3695°E / 24.7854; 67.3695
StatusOperational
Construction beganMay 2015
Commission dateDec 2017
Construction cost$1.91 billion USD
OwnersPort Qasim Energy Holding and Sinohydro Resources Limited
Thermal power station
Primary fuelBituminous coal
Power generation
Nameplate capacity1,320 MW
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The plants were built on a "Build-Own-Operate" basis,[5] and were constructed and will be operated by the Port Qasim Energy Holding,[6] a firm jointly financed by Qatar's Al-Mirqab Capital and China's Power Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of Sinohydro Resources Limited.

Project Details

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The project consists not only of the power plants themselves, but also will include the construction of a jetty for exclusive use of the power plant for coal importation.[7] The estimated annual coal consumption for the plants will be 4.66 million tons,[8] and enough annual power for an estimated 3-4 million households will be generated.[9]

The plants each consist of one boiler, steam turbine and generator, and are fueled by sub-bituminous coal which is offloaded at the project's coal jetty.[10] Electricity will be connected to the electric grid network K-Electric via a 500 kilovolt AC transmission line.[11] The plant's gross efficiency is equal to or greater than 41%, while the net efficiency is equal to or greater than 38%.[12]

Additionally, living quarters for up to 700 full-time workers were constructed at the site, with additional temporary housing facilities for 11,000 construction workers divided into a unit for 2,000 Chinese construction workers, and another unit for 9,000 Pakistani construction workers,[13] with all construction materials for living quarters provided by Chinese manufacturers.[14]

Coal Source

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Most of the coal used for the power plant will be imported from Indonesia, with South Africa and Australia identified as suitable supplemental suppliers.[15] Indonesia is identified as a primary source for its high quality coal, reliable production, and short transit times to Pakistan.[16]

Coal from Pakistan's own Thar coalfield was found to contain excessive amounts of sulfur and lime, and was not deemed to be of high enough quality for the project.[17] The supply of reliable coal from the fields was also considered to be inadequate.[18] Mixture of Pakistani indigenous coal with imported coal was also deemed to be unsuitable as it would decrease heat production from coal, and would compromise safety of the boilers which are to be used in the project.[19]

Construction and Operation

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Construction commenced in May 2015, and the first unit inaugurated in December 2017. The plants were built on a "Build-Own-Operate" basis,[20] and is to be operated by the Port Qasim Energy Holding,[21] a firm jointly financed by Qatar's Al-Mirqab Capital and China's Power Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of Sinohydro Resources Limited.

Financing

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Al-Mirqab Capital will own a 49% stake in the project, and while Power Construction Corporation, which will own a 51% stake in the project.[22] The individual companies will invest $521 million, while the Exim Bank of China will lend those companies the remaining $1.56 billion required for construction.[23]

Tariff

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The Government of Pakistan will be contractually obliged to purchase electricity from the plants for thirty years at a cost of 8.12 US cents per unit.[24]

Commissioned

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In November 2017, the first 660MW unit of the power plant was synchronised to the national grid. The power plant was completed and commenced full operations on 25 April 2018.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PM opens over 1,300 MW Port Qasim coal-fired power project". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  2. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 161. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. ^ Dan, Zhang (15 June 2015). "Pakistan power shortages; China comes to the rescue". CCTV. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Work on free trade zone at Gwadar continues". The Express Tribune. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. ^ "China, Qatar to build $2.09b coal-fired power plant at Karachi". The Nation (Pakistan). 11 April 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  6. ^ "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  7. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 37. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  8. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 152. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  9. ^ Abrad, Mian (7 March 2016). "Port Qasim Coal-fired Power Project: CPEC's first project witnesses emphatic progress on ground". Pakistan Today. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  10. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 37. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  11. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 46. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  12. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 43. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  13. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 76. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  14. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 76. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  15. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 152. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  16. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 152. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  17. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 156. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  18. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 156. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  19. ^ Zhong, Haixang (13 August 2014). "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. p. 157. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  20. ^ "China, Qatar to build $2.09b coal-fired power plant at Karachi". The Nation (Pakistan). 11 April 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  21. ^ "General Licence Application of Port Qasim" (PDF). NEPRA. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  22. ^ Shih, Toh Han (9 April 2015). "Chinese firm in US$2.09 billion Pakistan power plant deal". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  23. ^ "China, Qatar to build $2.09b coal-fired power plant at Karachi". The Nation (Pakistan). 11 April 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  24. ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (14 February 2015). "Nepra approves upfront tariff for Port Qasim plant". Dawn. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  25. ^ "1320MW Coal-Fired Power Plant At Port Qasim Karachi". cpec.gov. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
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