Gwadar/Makran has been facing severe power shortage due to insufficient generating capacity that has brought excessive load shedding to the area. To rectify this issue the area need to be connected to the National grid system (NGS) as soon as possible. According to the recent figures released by the government, 140km 132kV double circuit and 395km 132kV single circuit transmission lines are required for interconnection of Gwadar/Makran area with national grid system. Government will arrange a foreign finance of Rs 6.637 billion for the key project of interconnection of isolated Gwadar/Makran area with NGS.
The project will focus mainly on the construction of new grid station at Nag, construction of 285 km 132 kV double circuit transmission line, similar single circuit transmission line, stringing of 335 km, 2nd circuit, extension of existing grid station, installation of shunt capacitors and of static VAR compensators (SVCs).
To ensure uninterrupted power supply to the area, a 300 MW coal Power plant has been planned. The power generated from that coal power plant will be evacuated to the required area through construction of 132 kV gird station at Nag along with allied 132kV double circuit transmission as planned by QESCO.
Several meeting were held between Energy Wing, Ministry of Energy (Power Division), NTDC, QESCO and PPI (consultants) for this issue of power supply. After much deliberation the Power Division submitted a revised PC-1 to the Energy Wing with enhanced scope of work and increased cost. The cost of the project has been rationalised to Rs 17.421 billion from Rs 22.333 billion under the directives of the Planning Commission. The proposed SVCs will also increase the power capability of transmission lines by ensuring system stability and would supply high reactive power demand due to upcoming high load demand of Gwadar/Makran network, including significant motor load (dynamic load) with high VAR demand. The proposal has been forwarded to ECNEC for approval.
Earlier, the cost was rationalised from Rs 14.07 billion to Rs 13.23 billion. However, NTDC informed that the project without SVCs is not feasible.
