KARACHI: The Hub Power Company (Hubco) in a joint venture with China Power International Holding Ltd (CPIH) is setting up a 1,320 MW coal-based power plant in Hub district, Balochistan.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the project will be held today (Tuesday).

The power plant, being constructed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with an estimated cost of $2 billion, will contribute 9 billion kWh of cheaper electricity annually into the national grid.

The project is being constructed by China Power Hub Generation Company (CPHGC) – a joint venture project company set up by Hubco and China Power International Holding Ltd (CPIH).

CPIH holds 74 per cent share while Hubco has 26pc share in CPHGC. The project would consume an estimated 3.8 million tonnes of coal per annum.

A dedicated jetty would also be constructed alongside the power plant to import coal directly to the site of the plant. The China Development Bank (CDB) is the lead bank in the consortium of banks funding the project.

The boiler units being used for the project are state of the art super critical technology which is currently being widely used in most of the developing counties to improve coal efficiency, to lower the cost of fuel and to cut down emissions.

The chief executive officer of CPHGC, Zhao Yonggang said that the 1,320MW coal-fired power plant is the largest power project being constructed in Balochistan under CPEC. He added that the plant will bring immense socio-economic benefits for the country, especially for Balochistan.

Hubco has an installed power generation capacity of 1,601MW in the country. This includes 1,292MW Hub plant, 225MW Norwal plant and 84MW Laraib Hydel project in Azad Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2017