330MW plants connected with National Grid: ETPL

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Chief Executive Officer of Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL), Ahsan Zafar Syed has announced that Pakistan has made history by achieving successful connection of its two 330MW power plants with the National Grid for the back-feed power supply required for the plant start-up.

As per the plan, the power plants are required to inject electricity to the NTDC Grid post commissioning, and the successful back-feed operation of injecting electrons through the NTDC grid into the power plants is testament to the timely completion of the power project. 

Talking to Business Recorder Ahsan Zafar Syed said that the achievement of successful back-feed operations entailed construction work by NTDC of various aspects including laying down a 282-km long 500 kV Double Circuit Quad-Bundle transmission line from EPTL plant to Jamshoro in Sindh.

The laying of the transmission line also entailed construction of the foundations and eventual erection of 851 towers which is challenge and difficult to reach terrain. The transmission line was one of the key components. Power plants and different types of equipment also have to be aligned in time for successful testing and energization on July 31, 2018 by the EPTL management.

The transmission line post-commercial operations of the project will be used to evacuate 660 MW of electricity from EPTL’s power plant situated at Tharparker.

“This is a truly historic moment where we would like to acknowledge the efforts of the National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) who have been pivotal partners throughout the deployment of the project over the course of past 2.5 years,” he added.

The CEO ETP appreciated Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) for providing support to the project at every step and Chinese partners China Machinery & Engineering Corporation (CMEC) who also played an instrumental role in ensuring successful back-feed supply for the plant start-up.