Thar coal plant begins pumping power into national grid
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Engro Powergen Thar Limited's (EPTL) lignite coal power plant in Thar has started pumping 330MW of electricity generated by domestic coal into the national grid.
The first of two 330MW units of the 660MW project located in Thar Block II was tested and energised on Monday, a press release issued by the company stated.
EPTL CEO Ahsan Zafar Syed told Reuters by telephone that the company is running the plant on 100 per cent local coal. The second 330MW unit will be connected to the national grid in April, he added.
Together, the mining and power projects managed by Engro are expected to rack up a total of $1.6 billion in foreign exchange savings a year since power will be produced using indigenous coal, the press release stated.
Construction on the country's first 660MW power plant, an early harvest China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, commenced in April 2016. It was to begin generating 660MW of power by December 2018.
The EPTL power plant will utilise 3.8MTPA of coal supplied by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) as both projects achieve their commercial operations date by June 2019.
Engro claims that once the projects are running, they will rake up an average of $1.6 billion in yearly foreign exchange savings. Post-COD, the plant is expected to transmit 660MW of electricity through a 282-km long 500 kV double circuit quad-bundle transmission line from EPTL plant to Matiari.
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On DawnNews
Comments (120) Closed
Mar 19, 2019 02:34pm
Very good news for Pakistan
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Mar 19, 2019 02:34pm
Dream come to true
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Mar 19, 2019 02:36pm
I assume that they have taken all necessary measures to protect the environment anyhow Congratulations to the engineers who have achieved this historical feat
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Mar 19, 2019 02:40pm
Thank you Nawaz Sharif.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:45pm
A sigh of relief for Pakistan.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:47pm
Good but with high carbon foot print! Need green power generation sources such as nuclear energy, hydro-power and solar.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:48pm
This is excellent news, If second unit gets ready for start-up by April, in total 660 MW electricity generated from this will have significant impact in reducing power shortage in summer.
Many congratulations to the project team.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:49pm
Is this really a good thing? Is it really a 'saving '? Is coal based power ultimately sustainable? I'm afraid that I have many reservations about this whole Thar set up. I firmly believe that in the long run we are seriously damaging our land and environment and our future generations will be the real sufferers. But it seems no one cares. Even the media has stopped thinking and questioning.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:52pm
Good news for the economy - bad news for the environment.
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Mar 19, 2019 02:54pm
@Ali: Yea, NS wrote a personal cheque from his account in London (full of looted money) and used that money to build the plant.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:01pm
World over the coal-powered plants are shutting down. We are celebrating over it. Time to move to clean energy resources. Say no to fossil fuels.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:04pm
thanks to all especially chinese government engineers and technicians especially
tharis men and women to engro,sind government federal government who contributed in achieving this result.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:10pm
The Gold of Sindh Coal is doing wonders for Sindh and Pakistan.It is Pakistan's turn to use Coal for Energy.
That day is not far when load shedding will be thing of the past.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:15pm
@Batool Nasir, Our sub-continent is anyways too coal dependent when it comes to power generation. India produces 56% of its energy through coal based plants despite being an energy surplus nation. It will definitely move towards greener sources in due course but the current need is to provide uninterrupted electricity.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:17pm
Thank you Nawaz Sharif.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:24pm
Coal power generation is highly detrimental to the environment and a source of emitting dangerous pollution and CO2 gasses for the environment too.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:25pm
Why so few hydropower projects? Hydro is 6 paise per kwhr compared to 11 Rs per kwhr of coal. We need more dams. Thermal has never been economical.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:26pm
@Ali, and Asif Zardari too.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:29pm
Thank You, Nawaz Sharif, for the Power Projects and Best infrastructures like Motorways and Ring Roads.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:31pm
No government except PMLN has done anything better for Pakistan. Bring them back to fulfill dream of becoming progressive Asian Tiger
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Mar 19, 2019 03:33pm
can you kindly confirm if that is local and 100% local coal, i understand this coal is not local and imported from south africa, reason given was the cost ... i really am happy if its local coal, please confirm
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Mar 19, 2019 03:36pm
People criticizing Thar coal should realize that Pakistan is already facing the detrimental effects of coal usage by China and India. Why not use our own coal, as long as it does not exceed 20.0% of overall energy mix. This way we will use our own resource, create jobs and importantly provide electricity. Renewables should also be in the mix and eventually all these power sources should compete with each other.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:44pm
Prices going up not down, common man is miserable, dont care about details, electricity prices should be halved . .. IK is only increasing prices and burden on businesses and people
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Mar 19, 2019 03:44pm
Let's give credit to who deserves it, which seems to be NS and the previous government... Wonderful job!!
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Mar 19, 2019 03:44pm
Way to progress. MashAllah. Great going..
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Mar 19, 2019 03:48pm
Great work PTI for completing the project to the end.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:50pm
This project is already helping the Tharis. Now is the time to ensure that the people of Thar are provided with all opportunities for education, health and employment. Provision of water and electricity must be a priority for all Tharis living within 50 miles of the coal mines and power plant.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:51pm
@Ahmad, Do not just look at the 'electric power' only. Look beyond, at all other aspects before calling it good.
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Mar 19, 2019 03:56pm
The credit of the successful completion of the project must go to Nawaz Sharif.
How can one forget Imran Khan for his achievement of construction of the only one mega project in the country , the Peshawar metro; so far a shameful affair!
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Mar 19, 2019 03:58pm
@Concerned , As you can see from the photo, the coal plant is located in a desert in an uninhabited area. Therefore no worries about environmental pollution.
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Mar 19, 2019 04:00pm
Also, we need to make sure the people of Thar are given jobs before anyone else, and they should get either free electricity or at a huge discount.
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Mar 19, 2019 04:02pm
Another achievement of Great N.S Government !!!
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Mar 19, 2019 04:05pm
Congratulation Pakistan
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Mar 19, 2019 04:14pm
As PM promised, allow the savings to fund, schools, colleges, clinics ,water pumps, sports facilities and hospitals for the local s of Thar.
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Mar 19, 2019 04:19pm
Congratulations! More power to you!
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Mar 19, 2019 04:20pm
Congratulations! We will progress.
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Mar 19, 2019 04:21pm
Thanks NS
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Mar 19, 2019 04:24pm
we need more power and energy to keep pace with the rapid changing world.. we need dams, growth in agri sector, manufacturing and above in education and health cos a health and education produce the healthy country.. indeed a good news..
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Mar 19, 2019 04:24pm
Great news for entire Pakistan.
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Mar 19, 2019 04:34pm
@Shazad, Yea he should also write a cheque for people whose mental capabilities have been affected by pipe dreams sold by the incompetent PTI & IK
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Mar 19, 2019 04:36pm
@nauman, - Don't forget the achievement of leaving the country penniless. Spend 20 rupees, keep the other 80 in his pocket
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Mar 19, 2019 04:37pm
Pak China friendship Zindabad
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Mar 19, 2019 04:39pm
@Batool Nasir, "World over the coal-powered plants are shutting down. We are celebrating over it"
Dear Batool Nasir, it took more than 100 years for the developed World to start thinking seriously about environment and stop coal-powered generation. In these 100 years countries like Germany which was lying at the bottom took flourished to the top. They have acquired and accumulated all the wealth without even thinking about the planet.
I too little worried about the climatic impact of this project but what else an under-developed country like Pakistan could do? For me we should focus on limiting the carbon-emission from our industries. Another important thing for us is to comply with Paris-accord.
Coal powered project in Pakistan emit less carbon as compared other coal-based in the World.
Furthermore, Pakistan has also setup renewable energy plants like Solar-park in Bahawalpur and one Kpk (I don't remember the place).
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Mar 19, 2019 04:42pm
@Dr. Ali Canada, you're right No Govt. has looted any better than PML-N. Even PPP with Zardari couldn't stand a chance.
Bring them back, but wait! do we have anything left to be looted?
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Mar 19, 2019 04:42pm
Good to hear that but at what cost? Adding enormously to climate change, smog in our urban areas through huge emissions of greenhouse gases, degradation of environments in form of water, land & air pollution. Who is going to pay the cost of deprivation of livelihood of people displaced & affected by drinking polluted water, breathing poisonous air, & growing (if possible) any food on land completely covered with coal dust? With 1700 children dead so far due to malnutrition & thousands having stunted growth, we have to be prepared for its negative environmental impact on areas in the close vicinity & much beyond in the near future.
Use of coal for power generation having seen downward trend in China & elsewhere promoted w/o realizating its enonomic costs of causing severe negative environmental impacts are ignored. By creating euphoria of saving $1.6 B w/o carrying out an economic cost benefit ratio analysis, Is a fallacy & will expose our new generations to cater for its ill effects.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:04pm
That is infrastructure development. Backup and grow electricity oruduction and distribution based on supply demand prediction. Predict the demand of electricity and then match supply. Be ahead in the game.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:04pm
A sense of pride and hope for better future.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:05pm
NS planted the seed, nurtured the sampling when it was small, and now IK will stand in front of the tree and click his photo for his PR stunt.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:10pm
@Faisal Abbas, The project stalled under NS and has been completed by IK. If you really want to give thanks you can visit NS in prison.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:11pm
I am working in Power sector of India and associated with the project management of Thermal power plant of combined capacity of 5600 MW (8 commissioned sub critical units of 600MW and 1 under commissioning super critical unit of 800MW).
I would like to congratulate Engineers of Pakistan and China associated with this project. Lignite based projects are very tough to execute and subsequently for continuous operation (Than ordinary coal based plants). So, Kudos!!
Any developing country will need huge amount of cheap power. Coal is the cheapest way of producing power. Even coal based power production has increased in China. Solar is expensive (land, installation and life cycle cost). Moreover, silicon panels are generally not manufactured in developing countries.
It is true that coal is unclean energy but by using techniques like FGD and SCR the pollution can be controlled to some extent. All developed countries used coal as tool for development. Choose wisely.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:16pm
The tape might have been cut by the present government but the Thal Project was initiated by the previous rulers. However, the main profit gainer is Pakistan. Greetings !
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Mar 19, 2019 05:16pm
@Shazad, with that logic why do we give credit to IK for Shaukat Khanam? Don’t be hater.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:17pm
this is a short term solution but we really need to be self relient in energy production and this is a good start. renewables will be much cheaper in 10 15 years and we will shift there
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Mar 19, 2019 05:21pm
Credit should go to NS PML-N for starting the project in 2016.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:23pm
How much pollution it causes, let us hope someone is tracking health affects of the coal pollution.
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Mar 19, 2019 05:23pm
Thank Mian Sahib ...one more project goes online.But the sad part is “Same people are running the govt. who are building Peshawer Metro “
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Mar 19, 2019 05:45pm
We can burn coal for power generation while using state the art filters to neurtalise the smoke and harmful particles before leaving the chimney!
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Mar 19, 2019 05:49pm
Thanks 2 PML N and Nawaz Sharif for their foresight and focus
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Mar 19, 2019 05:59pm
While the world moves towards renewables, we just started tapping our coal reserves. Good news nonetheless since the electricity shortages are so severe.
Government must ensure environmental damage is minimized and Pakistan turns towards using cheaper renewables options in the longer term.
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Mar 19, 2019 06:04pm
This is to commend and applaud Pakistani and Chinese engineers for making this national dream a reality. The country can have "surplus" electricity if all the projects come on line, like water power generation, from coal, gas, wind, solar and nuclear power plants. Importing oil for power generation is expensive therefore it should be replaced by the above. Pakistan-China friendship Zindabad.
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Mar 19, 2019 06:12pm
How many local people have got jobs?
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Mar 19, 2019 06:19pm
Coal plants spew toxins into the air and damage the environment. Perhaps there could be investment in green technologies.
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Mar 19, 2019 06:46pm
All credit goes to “ corrupt” PPP govt for initiating the project. Listen to our hero,s comments against usage of coal when he was shamelessly opposing everything. Full credit to corrupt and looter politicians yet again.
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Mar 19, 2019 06:50pm
We are very short-sighted. Long term planning is missing from our planners. The world is shutting down coal generated plants and that is why it is being diverted towards third world countries and is being promoted as an inexpensive way to generate electricity. But what our policy makers and planners are not taking into account is the cost it has on the environment and human health. A final cost-benefit analysis will show that coal-generated plants are not beneficial for Pakistan or any other country.
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Mar 19, 2019 06:54pm
More fossil fuel pollution means we are damned if we do and damned if we don't.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:03pm
Happy to hear.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:16pm
Can someone here tell me what’s the tarrif and IRR of this project. Thanks
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Mar 19, 2019 07:17pm
I appreciate the effort. But if I am not wrong, it needs water to be converted into steam for propulsion of turbines. How will this plant run in barren Thar then? I wonder. Some expert may please elaborate this to me.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:17pm
Its a good news for Pakistan to generate the power using it own resources saving aobut 2 billion dollars yearly. This all process required a strong political will which Nawaz Sharif has provided.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:18pm
@Awais, r u serious.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:35pm
@israr, Its local thar coal.... the so called Lignite
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Mar 19, 2019 07:48pm
How about making gas from coal.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:59pm
@Daskalos, You are blaming on generation of power through coal by Pakistan. Needless to mention this
is the first power generation using Thar coal.Did you ever complain about India, China, USA and some European countries whose MAJOR rpt MAJOR source of power generation is by COAL. and they have ALREADY spoiled the atmosphere beyond repair.
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Mar 19, 2019 07:59pm
@Shazad, If you don't want to give credit to NZ since it was not from his pocket then in future if any project that is initiated and finalised during PTI tenure then one should completely ignore PTI .By the way Peshawar metro is a glaring example of PTI performance.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:00pm
Good news credit goes to PPP & Wind Government.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:16pm
@Daskalos, What an irresponsible and illogical negative comment.You have nothing against U.S.,China,
India and others using Coal Energy for decades.But if it is Pakistan's turn to use Coal you come up with
pollution etc.etc. really? Pakistan is blessed it has Coal in Sindh.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:42pm
@Awais, Was it his money
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Mar 19, 2019 08:44pm
@Shoaib Rehman, And they got Pakistan bankcrupy. During their rule isolated.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:45pm
@Dr. Ali Canada, you want to steal more money from poor Pakistanis.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:46pm
@Faisal Abbas, give credit to Chinese.
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Mar 19, 2019 08:47pm
@Nino, Nawaz has bankrupt Pakistan.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:10pm
I hope Thar will get benefit from it.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:13pm
@Daskalos, US, India, South Africa..... and many other countries are using coal generation plant, non of them are suffering.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:16pm
And the pollution will eat away the benefits.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:17pm
@Awais,
Totally agreed
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Mar 19, 2019 09:21pm
thanks to all those who worked over the years to achieve the goal.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:32pm
Guys everyone has to take care of their home. And with honesty and integrity; the only way forward.
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Mar 19, 2019 09:48pm
It a landmark project in the history of the country. Out low energy Thar coal was deemed useless till this moment. We can finally produced unlimited electricity with our own country. Out of all the dozens of governments which have ruled Pakistan, which one finally made this dream come true?
For those criticizing coal without knowing ground facts...even today, India & China still produce 40% of their electricity needs from coal, we use 1%.
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Mar 19, 2019 10:01pm
Excellent news...but down the road, you need to find a way to go away from coal generated power plant....
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Mar 19, 2019 10:29pm
@Dr. Ali Canada, pml and ppp ran parallel black economies on huge IMF loans and amassed huge wealths and properties outside Pakistan. Their leader is in jail for corruption. Think above ethnic lines please.
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Mar 19, 2019 10:34pm
Those thanking Nawaz Sharif are misinformed; the project was conceived and implemented by Engro and Sind government. It was well passed the planning stage and had its financial close when CPEC was launched. It was included in CPEC for inflating the overall figure and cosmetics.
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Mar 19, 2019 10:45pm
I think it will help end electricity loadshedding in Pakistan especially in Sindh.
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Mar 19, 2019 11:10pm
great
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Mar 19, 2019 11:23pm
Some people are saying "well done NS" as an insult to the current government, others are saying "well done IK" as an insult to the last government. Nobody seems to have the brains or the heart to say congratulations to both for assisting in this development.
Let's hope now that the Tharis are the first and foremost beneficiaries. They are the silent heroes in Pakistan, and they deserve the full potential of the reward from this venture.
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Mar 20, 2019 12:15am
Thank you Nawaz Sharif
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Mar 20, 2019 12:58am
@Ali, “..Thank you Nawaz Sharif..” even though it is anticipated that Nawaz Sharif and Family and Friends would have made billions of rupees in corruption from the project... also.. being in Sindh, Zardari would have been given his fair share of the loot!!
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Mar 20, 2019 02:16am
Coal is dirty, but effective...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
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Mar 20, 2019 02:50am
Also pumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. No doubt this will cost us much forex in the future when our crops fail due to climate change.
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Mar 20, 2019 03:15am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmaod, for once I agree with your view.
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Mar 20, 2019 03:54am
Erect more such plats as early as possible.
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Mar 20, 2019 04:46am
Congrats to Engro Group.There are speculations in market that over all production of power now exceeds the demand. It’s time for government and power generating companies to sort out new low prices, and anounce New industrial parks, that may create more jobs, and lower the poverty. Other priorities like Dams, and exploration of oil & Gas must continue with full speed.
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Mar 20, 2019 04:55am
I sincerely expect the authorities to avoid nepotism while appointing staff & experts on this project. The Sindh government is notorious for doing so.
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Mar 20, 2019 05:50am
Hope everybody concerned will keep it corruption
free. Ameen!
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Mar 20, 2019 05:54am
Excellent! We need to also invest in Green energy, nuclear energy to further reduce our reliance or oil.
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Mar 20, 2019 06:02am
@Naseem Ahmad, "@Ali, and Asif Zardari too."
Sure for sparing 10 percent on this project
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Mar 20, 2019 06:06am
@Daskalos, unfortunately there is no media in Pakistan. They are cheerleaders. Power plant has been built by Chinese loan which comes at 24 percent interest rate. Due to lack of transmission this power will only be used by Pakistani elites to run their acs non stop this summer. For awam more taxes to return Chinese money
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Mar 20, 2019 06:15am
This should have been done 15 years ago
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Mar 20, 2019 06:32am
What is the construction cost of this plant? Per unit cost?
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Mar 20, 2019 07:40am
When you are a underdeveloped economy and a energy starved nation, the environment must take a back seat for now. All the major developed countries used coal to get where they are now. Let's get the economy going. Increase productivity, attract investment, improve quality of life...invest in renewables.
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Mar 20, 2019 07:43am
People saying thank you Nawaz Sharif, are you so disillusioned to not notice he would have pocketed a lot of the money. How can you support someone who has stole from the country
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Mar 20, 2019 08:56am
@israr, it is local. the coal come from the mine itself and the power plant is located right next to it
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Mar 20, 2019 05:31pm
Thanks China for making it possible!
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Mar 20, 2019 07:58pm
@Erum Aziz, Poor comment. Instead we must curse China for transferring absolute technology, which they stopped using, presently the biggest polluter andcontributor of greenhouse gases- a major source in global warming, of putting Pakistan in the eyes of storm.
Be aware of the fact that climate change is already playing havoc within Pakistan by bringing drought to 20 out 33 district in Baluchistan, unprecedented floodings in the northern areas due to melting of glaciers, persistent smog hovering in urban areas exposing a large segment of population to lung cancer & heart disease, shortages of water due to changes in rainfall pattern & expected high levels floods later this year.
Let us call a spade a spade, China is dumping its ageold technology in Pakistan which has played havoc in their own country & as a policy change they stopped using it in coalfired power generation. We have to bear a huge future economic cost to fix environmental damage caused by this coalfired powerplant.
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Mar 20, 2019 09:28pm
Nothing is cheap. In this case the environment is paying the price
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Mar 21, 2019 01:50am
@Ahmed, I am wondering about the same thing, I see no water source near the plant in the middle of Thar Desert, and I do not see any cooling towers in the picture either. What is going on here? Where is the requisite water supply going to come from?
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Mar 21, 2019 02:50am
Thar Badle ga pakistan ....i love my thar
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Mar 21, 2019 03:29am
How much does this electricity cost us? Why did Pakistan have to provide sovereign guarantees on a project which is owned by Engro and Chinese investors?
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Mar 21, 2019 06:11am
Another Great venture by Nawaz Sharif (PML) for people's of Pakistan.
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Mar 21, 2019 06:56am
But hardly a good news for the environment....
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Mar 21, 2019 09:47am
well, but used new resources of energy like renewable, this is very old method and dirty job...consider all environmental aspects control all hazards including mercury in coal fly ash..
Thanks and best regards
Ather Adil
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