950806

33mw power plant

to be set up

for Gaddani

industrial zone

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: A 33 mw self-generation power plant, costing Rs.1170 million, will be set up to provide electricity to industrial units at Gaddani Industrial Area.

Work on the power plant, joint venture between Lasbela Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) and a private firm Balochistan Electric Works, has already commenced.

The managing director of LIDA Maula Bakhsh Magsi told Business Recorder that the power plant is the result of the Balochistan Government's efforts to attract private investors to invest in the development of Balochistan. The financing of the plant includes 50 percent foreign equity and 50 percent local investment to be contributed by Multipole Industries and Multi-white Blocks Ltd. The machinery for the plant will be supplied by MAN of Germany.

He said that the power plant at Gaddani is a fine example of one window operation policy of the federal government which desires that power, water and telecommunication facilities should be provided to the industrial units by the industrial development estates.

The Lasbela Industrial Development Authority is providing water and power to industrial units in Hub Industrial Area where about 123 industrial units are in production while 40 are under construction. At Winder Industrial Area of LIDA seven units are in production while NOCs have been issued to 51 industrial units. Gaddani Industrial Area will be the third project of LIDA.

The distribution of power and billing work at Gaddani Industrial Area will be performed by LIDA. The power rates will be in accordance with the Power Package Agreement of the federal government.

The joint venture agreement for the power plant at Gaddani Industrial Area was signed recently in Quetta by M.B. Magsi of LIDA and Farooq Siddiqui of Balochistan Electric Works and it was guaranteed by the finance secretary of the Balochistan Government.

The proposal for setting up the plant at Gaddani was presented to the Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi during his visit to London where he had gone to invite foreign investors to Balochistan.

A delegation of German investors accompanied by Farooq Siddiqui had called on him and had offered aim to set up a self-generation power plant in Balochistan.

The self generation power plant, which will be ready in 18 months, will supply electricity to about 100 industrial units planned for the Gaddani Industrial Area.