ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: The government has decided to undertake “transmission system for dispersal of power from Thar coal power project” at a cost of Rs5.5 billion that would generate 600 mw of electricity.

Official sources told Dawn here on Monday that the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved the project and would extend Rs2.5 billion as part of the foreign exchange component (FEC) cost.

The proposed 600 mw coal-fired power plant consisting of 300 mw each is being constructed by China which is envisaged to be commissioned by the year 2007-08.

The main objective of the proposed project is the construction of 225 km 500 kv single circuit transmission line from Thar coal power plant to 500 kv Jamshoro grid station and expansion of 132 kv system for dispersal of power to generate 600 mw power (Phase- 1) and for meeting the demand of the area.

The project is the part of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) overall power development and is proposed to strengthen the transmission system.

The project will also cater to the power needs of the local area by constructing 132 kv double circuit transmission lines from Thar to Samaro by making in and out of single circuit at upgraded Chachro and Umarkot grid stations, 132 kv single circuit transmission line from Thar to Islamkot, upgradation of existing 66 kv Grid Station at Islamkot to 132 kv level and construction of new grid station near project area.

Load flow studies have been carried out to disperse power from 600 mw Thar Coal Project to NTDC power station. The first unit of 300 mw capacity is expected to be completed by July 2007 while the second unit of the same capacity is likely to be commissioned by July 2008.

The interconnection scheme for power dispersal of 600 mw Thar coal power has been proposed in such a way that the plant would mainly supply power to the 500 kv system but it will also feed local system in its vicinity.

The NTDC, the sponsor of the project, has been directed to make sure that the implementation of the project would have minimum impact on environment. In this behalf, the company has been directed to have effective coordination with concerned local authorities. The equipment to be installed under the project would have negligible noise level. Adequate safety standards would also be adopted to minimise the risk of electrocution.

The work on the project would be carried out in a manner that it has minimal aesthetic impact on the natural landscape, forests, crops, wild life, both private and public buildings, archaeological centres and building of historical significance.

Officials said that a number of generating schemes have been planned to meet the growing power demand for which emphasis was on the maximum utilization of hydel potential available in the country. The capacity of hydel stations, however, does not remain constant during the year due to which thermal support has to be provided to meet the difference in the generating capacity when out-put of the hydel stations goes down in the low water months.

The break-up of existing installed capacity of WAPDA integrated system as of June 2003 is 15764 mw which includes Hydel 5009 mw, Thermal 4685 mw and IPPs 6070 mw.