A sea water desalination plant with a capacity of 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD) at Gwadar Port is expected to be completed by March 2023, according to a statement received by WealthPK.

The desalination plant’s capacity upon completion would be enhanced to 1.564 MGD at Gwadar Port, Minister of State for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan told the senators while responding to a question during Question Hour in the Upper House of the Parliament.

He said two sea water desalination plants with 0.1 MGD and 0.264 MGD output are functioning at the port.

The minister said the 19-kilometre access road of Gwadar Port Eastbay Expressway (EBEW) was completed in June 2022, which directly connects Makran Coastal Highway with Gwadar Port.

Similarly, he said, the land for the railway line was reserved along with the EBEW from Coastal Highway to Gwadar Port, which needs to be constructed by Pakistan Railways. Recently, the EBEW has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on June 3, 2022. The total installed power generation capacity was 12.3MW at Gwadar Port premises, with a breakup of 4.5 and 7.8MW power plant diesel/operational.

The minister said the construction of Gwadar Port was completed in 2004 and the operation of the port was handed over initially to M/s. Port of Singapore Authority on Built Operate Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 40 years in February 2007. This agreement was transferred on February 18, 2013, and the port was handed over to M/s. China Overseas Port Holding Company Limited (COPHCL). The term expires in 2047.

The 2,283 acres area of Gwadar Free Zone land was handed over in 2015 to M/s. Gwadar Free Zone Company Limited for the establishment of Free Zone in five kilometres radius vicinity of the port.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk