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FAISALABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a 40MW coal-based power project at Sitara Chemical Industries Ltd here on Saturday.
The prime minister unveiled the plaque of the project that has been completed in 27 months period costing Rs3.5 billion.
The 40MW power plant is the largest of its kind in the industrial sector of Faisalabad. The plant's boiler is based on circulating fluidised bed combustion technology.
It is equipped with continuous emission monitoring system which monitors 24/7 the emission of the gases in the air to protect the environment.
In his address at the inauguration ceremony, the PM said previous governments must be called to account for energy and economic crises "that dragged the country into darkness".
“In 1960 we were ahead of South Korea in development. In 1990, we were the best in the region. In 1999, we were the top economy in South Asia but in 2013, we stood last,” he said.
He said the government is investing heavily in the energy sector to rid the country of energy deficit by 2018.
"Commissioning of this power plant is a step towards achieving self-reliance in power generation. Such initiatives by the private sector are extremely encouraging and will prove helpful in overcoming the energy shortage in the country," the PM said.
"A policy of energy mix that focuses on diverse sources of energy is earnestly pursued at the government level."
Since the opposition has started re-building pressure on the government over Panama Papers leaks, Model Town killings and corruption issues, the premier has also embarked on what analysts say a mass-contact drive and is frequently inaugurating different development schemes or announcing public welfare plans.
He inaugurated the construction of the Lahore Eastern Bypass at Kala Shah Kaku on the outskirts of the provincial capital a day earlier.
In Faisalabad, the prime minister was accompanied by Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir and Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali.
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Comments (47) Closed
Sep 03, 2016 01:01pm
40MW what a joke
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Sep 03, 2016 01:04pm
INAUGURATES ?.......what was happening over the last 4 years ?
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Sep 03, 2016 01:05pm
While the rest of the world is switching to green energy. What a shame !
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Sep 03, 2016 01:08pm
Nothing will happen. Just political marketing tactics.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:11pm
good work.such projects benefit the people.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:19pm
@Asm About 65% of electricity produced in India is from coal power plants, in Pakistan it is barely 1%. Also this small plant in private sector has advance emission control system, read the article.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:21pm
@wellwisher What Good work ?? I live in Karachi ,paying double electricity charges of what i was paying two years ago despite low Furnace oil prices with little reduction in Load shedding ,,So where is the good work ?
Good work means i should get uninterrupted electricity at 50 % cost of what i was paying two years ago as Furnace oil prices are reduced by more then 50%.
So please explain me what do u mean by 'Good Work'
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Sep 03, 2016 01:26pm
@N.S Doesn't matter how much percentage is developed from Coal. Coal is #1 dirtiest source of electricity. It releases the maximum amount of carcinogen (air pollution) and radiation (yes, even more than nuclear more). More suffering for the common man/woman.
We are at an important cross-road. Unlike other nations with developed infrastructure, our infrastructure is almost non-existent. So it is imperative that we make wise decisions that affect both the present needs and 50 years from now.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:27pm
Capacity is small but this is project from private sector, PM went there to encourage the private company. But from where coal is coming in faislabad? Such plants should be located near to coal mines.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:39pm
Really 40 MW, really? PM inaugurated? How I can believe it? No, No, it must be 400 MW at least. Because 40 to 200 MW projects are in private sector and no body knows who inaugurated that. Faisalabad is a big big city.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:42pm
"which monitors 24/7 the emission of the gases in the air to protect the environment." how does monitoring emission protect the environment? Typical PMLN gimmicks and media obeys. Plus I heard this power plant requires high grade imported coal and wont run on local coal.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:43pm
world is moving away from coal. why are we always heading in the wrong direction?
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Sep 03, 2016 01:48pm
@N.S Coal Technology is an old tech. No country in the world is going for coal now .If India is producing that does not mean we should also follow.How many plants they are installing now .Secondly they are using local coal where as our plants are based on imported coal,keep this in mind.We are getting discarded plants from China as China has decided to get rid of Coal fired plants.My dear It is the game of Commissions and nothing else .One question why are we not emphasizing on Dams ,why not build Kalabagh when 80% of the assembly is with Pmln , what is the hurdle .How many dams are in last stages of completion??.Now you know the real game
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Sep 03, 2016 01:48pm
Coal has its own cost and quality of coal used to generate power is much higher than conventional coal and hence it required to be imported. If hydrogen atom fission nuclear power plant is inaugurated it will be much cheaper with more megawatts production.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:49pm
40MW for $3.5 B that's too costly. In Gujarat 1 GW was created just with $1 B by solar energy.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:51pm
As if he is investing his own money, this is just to show off something before Ehtisab March.
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Sep 03, 2016 01:53pm
@Hasan Faisalabad is only miles away from the coal mines. Potohar belt is full of Industrial coal. North Punjab have more than 200 million tons of proven coal reserves. If you visit Kallar Kahar region of District Chakwal then you will find dozens of coal mines there.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:06pm
US is producing 70% coal power, 5% Nuke, Hydal. and rest is gas/diesel. Canada is producing their energy 65% coal, Hydal. and 20% Nuke and rest gas/diesel. Here issue is not coal, gas, diesel hydal (These are approximately) or Nuke. Here, the concern is 40 coal power project for PM inauguration for a very big city. This city was sometimes HUB for textile which was 40% moved to Bangladesh in past 8 years. Majority were moved during GOLDEN era of 2008-2013.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:06pm
People you need to relax about the capacity. The plant is for sitara chemical's internal use. It may sell some excess capacity to fesco.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:25pm
PM Modi has given his approval for increasing the national solar mission capacity from the current 22 GW to 100 GW by 2022.
Government of India is providing Rs. 15,050 Crore as capital subsidy to promote solar capacity addition in the country. This capital subsidy will be provided for rooftop solar projects in various cities and towns.
In a bid to reduce the use of fossil fuels and increase the capacity of renewables, the Centre had announced the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in 2010.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:29pm
@N.S And what is that advanced control system to curb air pollution?
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Sep 03, 2016 02:30pm
@Ankit : your calculation is 100x wrong. You are mixing USD with Pk-Rs
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Sep 03, 2016 02:43pm
@WASEEM ASHRAF Check this article. USA produces 40% of its electricity through coal and they are expanding it, making the plants more safe.
http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-118/issue-7/features/america-s-best-coal-plants.html
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Sep 03, 2016 02:47pm
@Tinkoo ....This plant is a part of a textile industry. They already have 50MW thermal power plant.These plants are meant primarily for their industry and surplus is sold to power dispatch entity run by the government.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:52pm
@Asm ....Coal forms part of 41% of global energy.Pakistan made a mistake of relying too much on their Middle Eastern friends' subsidised oil in 70 and 80's neglected constructing coal based power plants. Pakistan as of now holds one the biggest coal reserves so why not make use of them.
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Sep 03, 2016 02:52pm
40 MW is indeed a small plant, but it is captive plant (To be used for Industry itself), and from that point of view, size is decently good.
From the comments one can easily infer that it is quite fashionable now a days to slam coal based power plants. However, to cater the need of a developing country (cheap energy) other non conventional sources are not sufficient. Even in India new coal based power plants are being set, but with strict emission and technical norms.
Solar power is good, but it is expensive and lacks all weather reliability. Hydro power is again expensive and establishment cost is huge (with all those environmental/social/political problems).
Nuclear energy is a reliable source, but on the other hand it is risky and more pollutants are being generated(waste disposal issue is not yet resolved). let us wait for nuclear fusion based power house for which technical advanced countries(including India) are working.
Thanks,
PS: I am working in power sector
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Sep 03, 2016 03:14pm
for 40 mw .... even company head wont visit for inaguration in india
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Sep 03, 2016 03:26pm
@N.S Well corrected
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Sep 03, 2016 03:46pm
@N.S it is only 33% and not 40% .What is their priority now ?.Are they investing now on coal.Please check
FYI ,USA's current energy mix in 2015 is as follows
Coal = 33%
Natural gas = 33%
Nuclear = 20%
Hydropower = 6%
Other renewables = 7%
Biomass = 1.6%
Geothermal = 0.4%
Solar = 0.6%
Wind = 4.7%
Petroleum = 1%
Other gases =
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Sep 03, 2016 04:13pm
if PML-N solve the major problem of energy crisis in pak i can say 100% they will win again 2018 election.but it,s time to carry on otherwise result will match like PPP which was the more democratic, patriotic, party of pakitan,s history.
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Sep 03, 2016 04:44pm
Why coal
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Sep 03, 2016 04:58pm
A large number of comments are focusing on capacity and comparison with India.
I people need to appreciate the development even if it is small one. Remember small steps can lead to a long journey.
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Sep 03, 2016 05:00pm
Premier of a nuclear power is inaugurating 40MW coal based power plant......what a BEAUTY......
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Sep 03, 2016 05:12pm
Nawaz Sharif will turn Pakistan into a develop country by 2018. He is astute businessman and knows his priorities well. Hence country men should have trust in him.
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Sep 03, 2016 05:12pm
Only 40 MW? That's too may be of obsolete coal based technology from China. After some time machines will require regular maintenance expanse. In India's Haryana too Chinese coal based thermal power plant is troubling now and closes down often.
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Sep 03, 2016 05:28pm
@Siddhartha - A sensible analyses from someone in the know...good one!
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Sep 03, 2016 05:38pm
@Ankit pls read again. It is 3.5 b pakistan rupees. Not usd.But you are right it is still expensive. approx 0.082 usd per watt is expensive for coal.
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Sep 03, 2016 05:54pm
40 MW is the CPEC. 40MW will create jobs and prosperity :)
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Sep 03, 2016 05:57pm
@Gmail
"Why coal"
when you will be at this kind of decision level you will know.
(although it is obvious that private money will do what is most efficient in all respects overall)
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Sep 03, 2016 06:08pm
All coal based power plants are being closed around the world we are inaugurating them. why ?
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Sep 03, 2016 06:41pm
@Abdul - Try reading some of the comments for explanation (especially @Siddhartha), instead of repeating the same line again and again!
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Sep 03, 2016 07:01pm
Private sector 40MW coal fired power plant has been completed in 27 months. Govt has completed 3 years of its rule. How many similar larger capacity coal fired power plants has the Govt been able to complete during this period - none. Govt Solar power project with nameplate capacity of 100 MW has been producing around 14 MW power, and that too at a NEPRA approved cost per unit of Rs. 18-20 per unit. Shows Govt expertise / performance.
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Sep 03, 2016 07:37pm
This sums it all that why PMLN the only option for Pakistan:
"“In 1960 we were ahead of South Korea in development. In 1990, we were the best in the region. In 1999, we were the top economy in South Asia but in 2013, we stood last,”"
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Sep 03, 2016 07:37pm
This gov is a joke indeed.instead of doing joint venture on thar coal reserves which are capable of providing energy for 300 years having 100000MW.they are spending billions in such trivial projects.what is required now is to spend on temporary basis on coal reserves.thereby spend energy on big renewable power projects IN BETWEEN.right now compensation is required to FULFILL energy requirements.But these loosers will never understand.THATS FOR SURE.
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Sep 03, 2016 08:08pm
The other problems are rising circular debt,outdated machinery,rising corruption in current projects like Nandipur,mismanagement and more important political tussle in case of Kala bagh dam.it is necessary to be dependent on renewable energy and carbon emission is hazard to Ozone.but if we have huge reserve of coal in thar then why not atleast utilize it on temporary basis till the construction of mega renewable energy project?if these 3.4 billion Rs could have spend via joint venture,utilizing thar coal reserve,it would be good enough to overcome energy crises
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Sep 04, 2016 10:10am
40 MW is a joke. We have supercritical 800 MW generators. 40 MW plants should be inaugurated by some local leader.
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Sep 04, 2016 11:03am
@Faisal From which standard Pakistan was Best in region in 1990 and top economy of south Asia in 1999? Perhaps you got sense of the world after 19999.
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