CHENGDU: China has announced to complete the Nandipur Thermal Power Project by March 31, 2015 which will feed 420MW power to the national grid.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had inaugurated the first unit of the project in last May. As a result of continuous pressure by the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Chairman Dong Fang Electric Corporation Si Zefu ordered the completion of the 420MW Nandipur Project by March 31, 2015 instead of June 30, 2015.
During a special talk with The News, Si Zefu disclosed that the Punjab chief minister was very keen for the completion of the project. Before this, he had given a briefing along with his company staff and replied to questions. This briefing was given to a six-member delegation of the editors of Pakistan and Sri Lanka with models and pictures.
On the question of supplying faulty railway engines to Pakistan, he said Pakistan had purchased 69 locomotives from them but their appropriate maintenance was not carried out. He said the engines were of standard class but faults could develop due to high temperatures in Pakistan. He said keeping the locomotives fit was Pakistan’s job.
Si Zefu suggested that Pakistan should observe the cost of time and quality while purchasing foreign machinery. He said China could manufacture higher class locomotives but higher prices should be paid for it.
Answering another question, he said his corporation would install two plants of six megawatt each in Block One of Tharparkar. He said 30 years ago China was also facing an energy crisis like Pakistan. Pakistan should also prefer hydropower as the crisis of power could be resolved by making power with Tharparkar coal.
He said China had decided to restart the halted power project of Chichu Ki Malian (Punjab). “We had completed the Ghazi Barotha Hydro Power Project 25 years ago and now we will work on the Bhasha Dam and Dasu Hydro Power Dam. The World Bank has assured provision of funds for constructing the Dasu Hydro
Power Project. We will also dig coal in Tharparkar and make electricity from it.”
