HUBCO’s 330-Mega Watt (MW) electricity project ‘Thal Nova Power’ has been successfully integrated with the National Grid, raising the total production of power from Thar Coal to around 3000-MW.  Minister for State Dr Mahesh Malani inaugurated the integration. The State Minister was briefed on the capacity of the project while CEO of Hubco Group, Kamran Kamal, gave a presentation on how the project will contribute towards the resolution of Pakistan’s energy problems. Mahesh Malani said that Thal Nova will create jobs for the people of the region and is therefore a very good addition to provincial and national development.

He informed that Thar Coal has the capacity to produce more than 100,000-MW of electricity for the next 200 years, adding that the project will help Pakistan save USD 6 billion in fuel imports. The Project is a joint venture among Hub Power Company Ltd (Hubco), Thal Engineering Ltd, Novatex Limited, and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), which is also the EPC contractor. 

The Project started construction in March, 2019, to ensure the earliest utilization of indigenous Thar Coal. It experienced delays due to COVID-19 pandemic but has now been synchronized with the national grid. It is pertinent to mention here that Thal Nova will use coal from Phase 2 of Sindh Engro Coal Mining at Thar Block 2. This will bring the cost of energy from Thar coal Block 2 to PKR 9/ kw-hr versus the imported coal plants which cost around PKR 20-30/ kw-hr.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk