September 08, 2008

Pakistan to set up coal based power plants at Ketti Bandar

Daily Times reported that Pakistan has proposed to set up coal based power generation plants at Ketti Bandar in Karachi due to easy access to water.

Government official said that Sindh Province is going to have a third port at Ketti Bandar after Karachi Port and Port Qasim as government has approved PC 1 for setting up the Ketti port. He added that ports & shipping ministry has prepared a master plan and sought views from different ministries regarding the activities of the port.

The official said that as Sindh has the biggest reserves of clay, granite and coal, the Ketti Port will help setting up plants for granite and coal. He added that "This would not only help utilize these reserves but also help in boosting trade activities at the port. Pakistan is importing clay from China at present and with the setting up of Ketti port, Pakistan dependence on Chinese clay will be abolished."

Meanwhile, water & power ministry has proposed to set up coal based power plants at Ketti Bandar as the Thar coal reserves are only 12 kilometers away. The other option of liking the Thar coal reserves for water availability was under consideration as the road link from Mir Pur Khas could be enhanced to sea beach for the availability of water.

Sindh Coal Authority is demanding to fix 9.5 cents upfront indicative tariff for the electricity generated through coal power plants in Thar. However NEPRA has said that 7.65 cents per kilowatt hour upfront indicative tariffs for coal power plants was reasonable and it should be announced.

Thar coal deposits are said to meet requirements of Pakistan for many years and would generate about 100,000 MW of electricity.