World's two largest power ships poised to provide electricity to Karachi

The world's two largest power ships, made by a renowned Turkish company, are poised to provide electricity to the business hub of Karachi, following completion of procedural requirements of government departments.
A company official told Business Recorder here on Saturday that transmission of electricity is expected to commence as soon as relevant government departments, including Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) and Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) complete their procedural requirements to complete successful testing of the power generation from on board the power ships.
The successful commissioning of this mega project, sponsored by Karadeniz Group through its electricity company Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim AS, is expected to pave the way for further investment from Turkey. Pakistan and Turkey have long enjoyed, including on a people to people level, fond brotherly relations, and it is expected that more FDI from Turkey will further strengthen these relations. He said that the company is awaiting completion of certain procedural formalities involving relevant authorities of the Government of Pakistan before achieving commercial operations. The Turkish company also in the interim offered to deliver free of rent electricity and only charge for the cost of fuel so as to assist in providing immediate relief from power shortages confronted by Pakistan.
The first important milestone of the project was achieved with the arrival of the world's largest Power ship KAYA BEY (Ship-mounted power plant) at Karachi in November.
KAYA BEY had reached its final destination in Korangi by successfully crossing the Clifton-Korangi channel with the co-ordination and leadership of KPT, PQA and other related authorities. The company officials praised the expertise of the resources deployed by the Pakistan authorities in achieving this very difficult technical milestone, and was expecting similar support and assistance in respect of the second power plant.
He said that all equipment which has been fastened and stored in sea tight conditions to avoid any technical problems during the sailing through the high waves in the open sea were deployed and commissioned swiftly by hundreds of expats and local contractors of Karkey. In the meantime, the 132kV interconnection line between KAYA BEY and Karachi's tallest tower was commissioned in parallel by Karkey's technical experts commissioning and preparing the generator sets.
Karkey which had completed its tests and preparations has dispatched a net electricity over 110 MW on January 29, 2011 as an initial batch, but had to wait for the completion of administrative procedures related to Pepco and other relevant authorities to go up to full capacity.
Last month, the second barge-mounted power plant ALICAN BEY also arrived at Karachi through a specialised submersible vessel from Singapore (MV STX Rose 1), thus achieving another remarkable milestone. ALICAN BEY (Barge Mounted Power Plant) has come along with a supporting work floating platform (deck barge required for the commissioning operation of the plants). This state-of-the-art special submersible vessel, mobilised by Karkey, is a unique vessel that submerges the cargo deck/platform to load special marine structures such as the unique power ship of Karkey, and after loading the vessel pumps the ballast water and regains floating status to commence its voyage. This novel transport method was deployed by Karkey for the swift delivery of ALICAN BEY to Pakistan. The company spokesman said that the Karkey Project is expected to allow the Government of Pakistan savings of up to approximately Rs 6 billion a year (2.5-3 billion savings from fuel transport costs and about 3 billion rupees in savings by elimination electricity transmission losses from upcountry to Karachi) as well as providing additional secure generation capacity to Karachi and subsequently to the rest of the country. The timing of the project is very important, as everybody is aware about the unfortunate natural disaster of floods that hit Pakistan during the past monsoon season. Turkey was the first country to extend its assistance to Pakistan. A part of the electricity generation and infrastructure was affected, too. The power ship will contribute in meeting the electricity demand of the country in such critical period and allow savings to national exchequer to finance the much troubled energy sector in the country.