ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Thursday approved generation license for Engro Powergen Thar (Pvt) Limited (EPGTPL).
The Power Project of EPGTPL of 2 x 330 MW will be the first part of the Energy Park which would have total generating capacity of approximately 3600 MW.
EPGTPL has already applied for the acceptance of the Up-Front Tariff for Coal.
The project is also included in the least cost expansion plan of NTDC which would be responsible for evacuation and transmission of power from the Power Plant.
Pakistan is a coal-rich country, with estimated reserves of around 185 Billion. Most of these reserves are situated in the area of Thar in Sindh.
The Thar Coal for Power Generation the Sindh Engro Coal Mining
Company Limited (SECMCL) was established as a joint venture between the Government of Sindh (GoS) and Engro Powergen Limited.
A subsidiary of SECMCL has been incorporated in the name of Engro Powergen Thar (Pvt.) Limited (EPGTPL) to develop a power project.
Power Sector of the country is facing multifaceted problems. These include not only energy shortage at generation side but also of inappropriate energy mix.
Both these basic issues can be resolved with the installation of bigger Coal based generation facilities/Power Plants, said a press release.
The decision to grant a license to EPGTPL for the setting up of an indigenous Coal Based Power Plant would be a milestone achievement and would envisage a strong commitment and desire towards utilizing the indigenous coal reservoir of Tharcoal, while ensuring compliance of international environmental standards and obligations.
This factor would ascertain the national energy security for future.
It would contribute towards the development of local communities and provision of jobs to local people in that vicinity.
At the national level the coal fired power plants regime is a step in the right direction for self-reliance in energy and for generation of affordable electricity and to increase diversification in power generation.
Overcoming energy crisis in short term would contribute towards economic sustenance.
The interest in coal plants reflects the investor confidence in NEPRA's Tariff determination consequently mitigating the power crisis in the country.
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