ISLAMABAD – Lucky Electric plant in Bin Qasim, Pakistan is going to be thefirst lignite-fueled ultra-supercritical power plant across the MiddleEast, North Africa and Turkey region.
The power plant will be constructed by SEPCOIII and General Electric (GE)will help build it. The new power plant will provide 660 megawatts (MW) tothe national grid, the equivalent power needed to supply up to 1.3 millionPakistani homes and industries. and is planned to commence commercialoperations in 2021.
Breakthrough boiler design by GE is specifically suited for generatingpower from Thar lignite, a fuel that is challenging to use because of itshigh moisture content. GE will provide advanced boiler and steam turbinetechnology to power Pakistan’s first ultra-supercritical power plant inDehGhangiaro, Bin Qasim, Karachi.
The boilers will use beater wheel mills and proven coal preparationtechnology, which is essential to handling high-moisture lignite. GE’sadvanced boilers will help generate low-cost power efficiently and reliablyfrom Thar lignite, which was long considered difficult to achieve becauseof the low calorific value and high moisture content of the fuel.
It is pertinent to mention here that Lucky Electric power project standsout as the first power plant located outside Thar district that will uselignite mined from the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) Mine at TharBlock II, in addition to imported lignite as back-up fuel. It is expectedto set an example of how Thar coal can be transported over a distance andused reliably to produce power close to load centers.——————————
Sarim Sheikh, President and CEO of GE Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, spokeabout the matter and said:
“Coal will remain a vital part of the energy mix in Pakistan. Theultra-supercritical technology by GE is not only reliable, affordable, andan efficient solution, but also helps to lower emissions. The turbines willgenerate up to 660 MW to help the country bridge the gap betweenelectricity demand and available supply.”
“SEPCOIII has worked with GE for many years now on power projects aroundthe world. We are confident that our collaboration, which brings togetherGE’s industry-leading technologies with SEPCOIII’s outstanding managementskills and execution resources, will lead to the successful completion ofthis important project,” said Qin Xubao, Project Director at SEPCOIII. “Asthe first lignite-fueled ultra-supercritical power plant across the MiddleEast, North Africa and Turkey region, the project will help to set newindustry benchmarks in Pakistan.”
GE has been supporting the development of energy, transportation andhealthcare infrastructure in Pakistan for more than 50 years. Today,GE-built technologies can generate the equivalent power needed to supply upto 25 percent of the country’s electricity.