The 2*660 megawatts Thar Coal Block-1 power plants, sponsored and constructed by Shanghai Electric have started commercial operations following the successful completion of the reliability-run test (RRT). This was stated by Thar Coal Block-1 (TCB-1) Power Generation Co., a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric. The project has an annual production capacity of 9 billion units, which can meet the demand of 4 million local households. The project will bring economic benefits by reducing fuel imports; saving foreign exchange reserves and enhancing the energy security of Pakistan, the company said. Meanwhile, a video posted by Asif Ali, Manager of Commercial at Shanghai Electric’s TCB-1 showed that the Chinese and local staff of the power plant burst into jubilations as the facility successfully completed the 168-hour long RRT.

The staff is seen counting down as the RRT got close to completion, and shouted slogans to congratulate one another after the RRT came out as successful. “All the relevant parameters were successful”, Asif Ali told Gwadar Pro. The RRT started on Jan 28 and the plant gradually attained full load for the test as per the agreed criteria. The plant is now contributing 1,320 MWs of affordable electricity from the indigenous coal to the national grid, Asif said. Thar coal is now contributing 2,640 MW of electricity to the national energy mix, thanks to the coal mining and power plant projects initiated in the Thar desert under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP