Wind power in Pakistan
Pakistan is developing wind power plants in Jhimpir, Gharo, Keti Bandar and Bin Qasim in Sindh. The government of Pakistan decided to develop wind power energy sources due to problems supplying energy to the southern coastal regions of Sindh and Balochistan. The projects there are undertaken with assistance of the government of China.[1] Another area with potential is Swat which shows good wind conditions[2] and whose traditional leader Miangul Adnan Aurangzeb works with investors interested in wind power, once local political conditions would improve.
Jhimpir Project
The Jhimpir Wind Power Plant is the first wind power plant in Pakistan. The wind farm is being developed in Jhimpir, by Zorlu Energy Pakistan the local subsidiary of a Turkish company. The total cost of project is $136 million.[3] Completed in 2002, it has a total capacity of 50 MW.
This wind Corridor has a 50000 megawatt potential with average wind speeds over 7 meter per second. The government of Pakistan has announced upfront tariff and ROI of 17 percent which is highest in the world. There are 14 projects in the pipeline out of which 50 MW FFCEL project will achieve COD by mid December 2012.
Jhimpir Wind Energy Project (FFCEL)
Fauji Fertilizer Company Energy Limited, is building 49.5 MW wind Energy Farm at Jhimpir near Karachi. Contract of supply of mechanical design was awarded to Nordex, a German wind turbine manufacturer, and Descon Engineering Limited. By the end of 2011 49.6 MW will be completed. The Pakistani government has also issued a LOI for a 100 MW Wind power plant to FFCEL. The government has plans to achieve electric power up to 250 MW by the end of 2015 from wind energy to bring down energy shortage.
Foundation Wind Energy I Limited and Foundation Wind Energy II (Private) Limited
Fauji Foundation is under process of achieving financial close for two wind projects (50 MW each) at Gharo, Thatta District. The EPC contractors are Nordex and Descon with Nordex as the lead contractor. Once the aforementioned projects reach financial close, these will have 15 months for being fully operational (i.e., despatch of energy under EPA). Foundation Wind Energy II (Private) Limited was commissioned on July 2014.
Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan has started the operation of 50 MW wind power project on 24 November 2014 at Jhimphir, Sindh. Contract of supply and installation of wind turbines was given to GOLDWIND and EPC contractor in the project was CWE (China International Water & Electric Corporation). TGF is the sister concern of China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), who have built the world largest dam with the installed capacity of 22500 MW in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei, China.
Three Gorges have also planned to build two more wind power projects of 50 MW each in Jhimphir, Sindh in 2015.
Sapphire Wind Power Company’s (SWPCL)
A 52.8 MW wind power plant attained commercial operation (COD) in a record time of only 14 months on 22 November 2015. Hydrochina, a Chinese EPC contractor using 33x1.6 MW GE wind turbines constructed the power plant. Some $ 95 million debt financing was secured for the project from Oversees Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), USA. The project is a joint ownership of Sapphire Textile and Bank Alfalah.
Tapal wind farm
The Tapal wind farm is located at the province of Sindh. HydroChina, a subsidiary of China Power Construction Corporation, is constructing the project. It will be run by three local Pakistani companies. The deal is for 20 GW82 1.5MW turbine. The machines will be customised to suit the local wind and climate conditions. Shipments will be made at the end of 2015. Installation work is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2016.
Metro Power Company Limited
Metro Power Project, a 50 MW wind power project of Metro Power Company Limited located in Jhimpir, district Thatta, Sindh, achieved financial close on 19 February 2015. The project is expected to achieve commercial operation by August 2016. The initiative in sponsored by Iqbal Ali Mohamed and Family, Infraco Asia Development Pvt Ltd out of Singapore and International Finance Corporation is scheduled to commence operation in third quarter 2016. It is financed by ETDB, National Bank, UBL, Bank Alfalah and Askari Bank.
References
- ↑ Pakistan looks to wind power – BBC News 9 January 2002
- ↑ Archived February 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Jhimpir Wind Power: Pakistan’s first wind farm gets global recognition, Published in "The Express Tribune" on 22 April 2012. Retrieved on 24 July 2012
External links
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