Pakistans Push for Energy

Dam expansion project awarded

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: The government on Thursday allowed a consortium of Kohinoor Group and the UAE-based Al-Nahyan Group to undertake $500 million Tarbela dam expansion project to enhance its generation capacity by 960MW.

The project, which is expected to be completed in 2015, would raise Tarbela dam’s generation capacity to about 4,550MW.

A meeting of the board of directors of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) presided over by minister for water and power Liaquat Ali Jatoi decided to issue a formal letter of intent (LoI) to the consortium, Tarbela Hydro Limited and Associates comprising Kohinoor Group and Al Nahyan Group of the UAE.The consortium will be required to complete feasibility study within 18 months and complete the project by 2015. The PPIB had sought proposals from local and international firms a few months ago and 13 companies expressed interest in the project. However, only three firms submitted their statements of qualification, and the offer of Kohinoor and Al-Nahyan Group was declared successful.This will be the fourth extension of Tarbela hydropower project.The board also approved the setting up of 139MW Chakothi Hattian Hydropower Project in Azad Kashmir

It is is estimated to start commercial operation by 2015, according to a press release.The statement said the meeting was informed that the PPIB had recently signed implementation agreements (IAs) with five companies for a total of 992MW and four IAs for 715MW are ready for signing.The projects for which IAs have been signed include

165MW Attockgen by Attock Group of Companies,

225MW Atlas Power of Shirazi Group,

202MW Foundation Power, a company of Fauji Foundation,

200MW Nishat Chunian and

200MW Nishat Power by Nishat Group.

Qatar Investment Authority's (QIA) proposal for setting up 500 MW thermal power project at Chichoki Mallian. GoP and QIA signed an MoU during the visit of Qatari Minister for Finance to Islamabad on May 31, at the Prime Minister House, with the EPC contractors ie Alstom Marubeni.The company which is being assisted by Saif-ur-Rehman, former Chairman Ehtsab Bureau, had quoted $350 million project. This deal is being finalized.