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Keti Bandar power station is a shelved power station in Keti Bandar, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Keti Bandar power station | Keti Bandar, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan | 24.15, 67.45 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | shelved | coal - lignite | 660 | unknown | 2025 | – |
| Unit 2 | shelved | coal - lignite | 660 | unknown | 2025 | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Sindh Coal Authority [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Sindh Coal Authority [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Thar coalfield
Background
As part of a drive to develop an industrial base in the agricultural Thatta District, the government of Sindh developed plans for a Special Industrial Zone at the deep water port at Keti Bandar, originally a fishing community of 15,000 in the midst of a 60,000-hectare wildlife sanctuary. The port would include a bulk liquid handling facility, a jetty for off-loading coal, and a main 14-berth port. Part of the development of the port would be the construction of a 1,320 MW coal plant that would initially use imported coal. As the Thar lignite fields develop, the plan envisioned converting the fuel supply for the first two units to indigenous dried lignite briquettes. Four additional 660 MW units are also envisioned, also fueled by dried lignite briquettes.[1]
The plans for the plant were developed by Sindh Coal Authority, a division of the Energy Department of the Government of Sindh. It was not stated whether the government would operate the plant. The power station and coal jetty were to be part of the China-Pakistan Economic Zone (CPEC).[2]
A September 2013 article decried the neglect of the Keti Bandar project after its inauguration by Benazir Bhutto in January 1996. The editorial touted the "merits" of the project including the "quick start of the first unit of 1,300 MWs from imported coal and the remaining 3,900 MWs — and all subsequent additions — from Thar coal." According to the article, investors had deposited US$5 million with the Sindh government to pay for technical studies of Thar coal in support of the project.[3]
In July 2014, it was reported that the Sindh government had lodged a written protest with the federal government against the approval of ten coal plants in Gadani by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC). It suggested that the projects be shifted to Keti Bandar in order to avoid polluting the 20-million-resident Karachi area.[4]
In January 2016, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah reiterated the provincial government's support of the Keti Bandar coal power plant project, stating that "it is a fabulous and most attractive project and Chinese investors and their consortium would love to take it up." The government would lay a rail line from the Thar coalfield to Keti Bandar (making it unclear why the plant would need to be located at a deepwater port).[5] In November 2016, following a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador, Chief Minister Shah said that Sindh officials had "finalized a plan" to develop the project.[6]
In June 2017, Chief Minister Secretary Energy Agha Wasif said M/s Bridge Factor Consortium would carry out a feasibility study of the Keti Bandar Project: the laying of a 450 km railway line from Thar coalfield to Keti Bandar, installation of a 1,320 MW power plant extendable up to 10,000 MW, and development of a jetty for transportation of machinery and equipment. Efforts from the Sindh government were made for inclusion of Keti Bandar as a second China-Pakistan Economic Zone port in December 2016, in addition to the proposed Gwadar Port.[7] The feasibility study was planned for completion in 2018, development work in 2019, and operation in 2025.[8]
In February 2020, Pakistani officials said a private firm had been engaged to conduct technical and financial feasibility study of the Keti Bandar project in December 2019, and the financial feasibility was almost complete.[9]
In April 2021, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced that 4,000 acres of land had been identified for the project and a feasibility study was completed for installation of a 1,320 MW power plant along with a railway line, coal jetty, and allied infrastructure. In addition, Shah noted a financial viability assessment and bid management report were also complete and a transaction advice report underway.[10]
Pakistan’s Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-30 approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority in September 2021 did not appear to list the project.[11] Likewise the updated plan from September 2022 did not list the project.[12]
However, a media article from March 2022 referred to the project as 'ready for construction' with investors invited to the sector.[13] As of December 2023, there has been no further news on the project.
In March 2024, with no apparent updates in over two years, the power station was presumed to be shelved.
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Information Memorandum: 2x660 MW Imported/Thar Coal Power Projects at Keti Bander," Sindh Coal Authority, undated
- ↑ "Dhabeji industrial zone, Keti Bandar to be part of CPEC," Dynamic News, November 16, 2016
- ↑ Syed Mohibullah Shah, "How PPP missed the boat," Dawn, September 10, 2013
- ↑ "Collateral Damage: Sindh objects to Gadani power park scheme," Express Tribune, July 25, 2014
- ↑ "Realising a ‘dream’: Sindh decides to revive Keti Bandar project," Express Tribune, January 23, 2016
- ↑ Sindh to set up industrial zone in cooperation with China," Express Tribune, November 16, 2016
- ↑ "Sindh govt hires consultant to study for 1320 MW power plant at Keti Bandar," The Nation, June 17, 2017
- ↑ "6,000MW coal power plants to be installed by 2025," The Nation, November 14, 2017
- ↑ "Transportation of Thar coal: Sindh CM, CPECA chief discuss Chhor to Islamkot Railway track," BR Recorder Report, February 22, 2020
- ↑ "China assures Murad of inclusion of KCR, Keti Bandar projects in CPEC," Dawn, April 7, 2021
- ↑ “Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-30,” National Transmission and Despatch Company, September 2021
- ↑ "Approval of IGCEP 2022 and onward submission to NEPRA," NTDC, September 14, 2022
- ↑ "Sindh to enhance number of SEZs". tribune.com.pk. March 15, 2022.
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Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
