The first electron generated from indigenous lignite coal of Tharparkar has become a part of the National grid after almost a decade of work and development. The first unit producing 330MW of electricity located in Thar Block II has been energized and has started production of electricity. This is the first unit of the overall 660MW plant owned by Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL). It is hoped that both the mining and power projects, managed by Engro Energy, will be able to bring average foreign exchange savings of up to USD 1.6 billion per annum.
The project has been constructed in a record time of less than 3 years – as per schedule and projected costs, a feat in itself given the complexity of the project. EPTL power plant will utilize 3.8MTPA of coal supplied by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company as both projects achieve their commercial operations date (COD) in June 2019 after which 660MW of electricity will be evacuated through a 282-km long 500 kV Double Circuit Quad-Bundle transmission line from EPTL plant to Matiari in Sindh. The 660 MW power plant of EPTL will use circulating fluidized bed (CFB) technology to burn coal from Thar which is regarded as the 7th largest coal reserve in the world with 175 billion tons of lignite coal.
EPTL – one of the early harvest projects of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – commenced the construction of Pakistan’s first 660MW power plant after the financial close of the project in April 2016. The project is a joint venture between Engro Powergen Ltd, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) & Liberty Mills Limited, and is being developed at a cost of US$ 995.4 million private investment.
On this occasion President of Engro Corporation, Ghias Khan said: “The first sync of the power plant on Thar coal is truly a momentous occasion for entire Pakistan. Engro’s commitment to the Thar coal project goes back almost a decade when we entered into a public private partnership in 2009. The synchronization of the first unit of the 660MW power plant is both testaments to Engro’s capacity to engineer excellence and deliver on this project of national importance which will ensure the energy security of the county.”
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