The cost of 220KV Nawab Shah Substation has increased by Rs 860 million from Rs 4.909 billion to Rs 5.769 billion, mainly due to dollar appreciation against Pakistani rupee. Government would finance the projects through local and foreign sources. In the original PC-1, the foreign exchange component (FEC) was estimated at Rs 3.339 billion, which rose to Rs 4.058 billion in the updated PC-I due to depreciation of rupee against dollar.
The main objective of the project is construction of Nawab Shah Grid Station at 220KV level along with associated transmission lines to meet with the additional load demand & voltage profile improvement of HESCO area. The project includes construction of 220KV substation at Nawab Shah with three 220/132KV, three 250 MVA transformers along with allied equipment and accessories and construction of a 220KV D/C transmission line (approx 65km) on twin bundle Rail conductor from Moro to proposed Nawab Shah Substation.
According to the working paper of the project, the transmission system of the country is overloaded and not capable to cope with the increasing power demand. In near future thousands of megawatts addition in the system would result in frequent tripping and heavy breakdowns. Resultantly, enhancement in transmission and transformation capacity of NTDC system is required.
Official papers indicated that the power sector aim is to provide reliable, uninterrupted power to its consumers. Keeping in view the present loading position and increasing trend of the power demand in near future, immediate requirement has been established to enhance the capacity of the existing grid stations by addition/upgradation/augmentation of 132KV, 220KV and 500KV Transformers.
The project will lead to improve voltage profile, system reliability of network and reduction in the loading of power transformers. The scheme will also result in overall power system efficiency and stability to deliver adequate and quality power to the consumers of HESCO I SEPCO area.