ISLAMABAD - The government is pursuing an impressive plan to install more coal-fired power plants to generate thousands of megawatt power and meet its burgeoning demand in the country.
   Among the long list, two coal fired power plants, having 660 MW each capacity, are planned to be constructed at Jamshoro. The preliminary documentation of this project, being financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been completed.
   According to the information provided by Ministry of Water and Power on Sunday, the loan agreement has been signed for $ 900 million as the tentative completion of this project is in 2018. The usage of the coal for the project includes 20 per cent Thar Coal (lignite) and 80 per cent imported coal (sub-bituminous).
   The other project planned to be constructed at Gadani, Balochistan, includes two 660 MW coal-fired power plants. The government has also planned to construct the Power Park with installation of ten 660 MW each machines on imported coal. Under this project, eight 660 MW each machines will be installed by Independent Power Producer (IPPs) and two 660 MW each machines by the Pakistan Power Park Management Company Limited.  The preliminary documentation i.e. feasibility report, (sub-bituminous) will be used. Request for proposal has been issued to respective firm.
   Another two projects having capacity of 660 MW el fired power would be constructed at Thar. Its concept paper has been submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Development Division, Islamabad for approval while Expression of Interest (EoI) has been called to hire appropriate consultant for preparation of preliminary documentation. For the project, 100 per cent Thar Coal will be used. The information said two 660 MW each coal-fired power plants had also been planned at Lakhra for which concept paper was submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Development Division approval.     EoI has been called to hire an appropriate consultant for preparation of preliminary documentation. For this project, 100 per cent Thar Coal will be used. The location of Lakhra Power Station is near Manzoorabad (Khanote) in Jamshoro district, Sindh on the right bank of the Indus. Hyderabad city is about 60 km in north east of the station, which consists of three coal fired units of 50 MW each on fluidized bed technology.  Unit No. 1 is in operational condition whereas other two units are under shutdown for want of major rehabilitation work, which is under process. The two planned 660 MW each coal fired power plants will be an addition to meet energy needs. Moreover, the government has also planned 200 MW coal-firedpower plants at Quetta for which concept paper has been submitted for approval.