“After the successful synchronization of the second 660 MW unit of Thar Block-1’s 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant this month, the Thar Block-1 Integrated Mine-Power Project is on track to achieve its commercial operating date (COD) very soon.” Meng Dong Hai, Chairman of Thar Block-1 Integrated Mine -Power Project and CEO of TCB-1, told Gwadar Pro in a recent interview.
According to Chaudhary Qayyum, vice president of mine project, after the project is put into commercial operation, it will alleviate the current situation of power shortage in Pakistan, meet the electricity demand of nearly 4 million households in Pakistan. He added that, “at present, it would cost Pakistan about $826 million a year to import fossil fuel similar to that mined and supplied by Thar. The commercial operation of the project will play an important role in alleviating the local energy crisis and saving foreign exchange in Pakistan.”
The Thar Block-1 Integrated Mine-Power project consists of a 2×660MW high-parameter coal-fired generating units with a supporting lignite open-pit coal mine having annual output capacity of 7.8 million tons. It is a key project in the energy cooperation project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is also the larger power generation project under CPEC with the larger single capacity, the higher parameters and the higher Chinese investment rate using local coal in Thar.
During the coal mining process, Shanghai Electric has taken adequate precautions to ensure the safety of coal miners. Li Ji Gen, CEO of Mine Project, explained that, “under the supervision of a qualified and efficient safety team made up of professionals from both China and Pakistan, who are working hard to comply with international mine safety standards, providing workers with the best personal safety protective equipment in the market, constantly following innovative site safety standards, and conducting regular training.”
During the implementation of the project, Shanghai Electric has worked with the local community in Thar to promote sustainable development, promote and preserve the rich local culture and ensure this through royalty payments to the Sindh government, as well as their own fund.
“In addition, we provide employment and business opportunities for local residents in the form of commercial supplies or small construction projects according to their financial means. Up to now, we have already hired more than 8,000 local employees and also brought local women to work in the project,” highlighted by Sufyan Ansar Warraich, Administration Manager of TCB-1.
As an investor, Shanghai Electric offers one-stop solution for the investment, construction and operation of the Thar Block-1 Project. As an equipment manufacturer, Shanghai Electric has provided related equipment to all the nuclear power plants built in Pakistan, as well as power equipment and related technical support to the “Belt and Road Initiative” and other power projects of CPEC. It has also been involved in the transformation of the power grid in Karachi, which has considerably improved the reliability and stability of Karachi’s power transmission infrastructure and greatly eased the power supply shortage in Karachi.
