Mahmoodkot power station
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Mahmoodkot power station is a cancelled power station in Mauza Gujrat, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Punjab province, Pakistan.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Mahmoodkot power station | Mauza Gujrat, Kot Addu, Muzaffargarh, Punjab province, Pakistan | 30.191, 71.011 (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 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | unknown | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | China Machinery Engineering Corp [100.0%] |
Background
According to a December 2014 overview of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan Today, a Memorandum of Facilitation Agreement was made between the Government of Punjab and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for a one unit 660 MW Coal fired power plant at Muzaffargarh.[1]
The Punjab government had ordered a survey of four pieces of land for installation of two 660 MW coal-fired power projects. Following the survey, two pieces of land were selected for the purpose and were acquired: one at Mauza Rao Bela Sharki for the Kapco power station and the other at Mauza Gujrat in Kot Addu tehsil for China Machinery Engineering Corporation's Mahmoodkot power station.[2]
Residents of Mauza Budh, Bhakker Noon, Wairer Sipra, and Dhengana said they were concerned about the pollution the project would cause in the area. They estimated that the pollution would affect more than 50,000 people living in these villages. Affected farmers also alleged that the price paid to them for their land was lower than the market rates: they said the market price of their land was Rs2 million per acre, but they were offered only Rs600,000 per acre.[2]
Affected farmers hoisted banners on local buses and vans, demanding the Punjab government shift the project to state land. In August 2015, Mahmood Kot police registered a case against 150 farmers, saying they were interfering with engineers and local revenue officials conducting surveys on the project site.[2]
In August 2015, farmers from five villages blocked Mahmood Kot and Qasba Gujrat roads for hours demanding withdrawal of the case of the 150 farmers booked on charges of injuring a survey team. One protester, a retired schoolteacher, said that he had received notice from the government to vacate the 10 acres of land that he and his family depended on. He said that he would die but never leave.[3]
After substantial public protests against the plant for the two plants in Muzaffargarh, the district coordination officer wrote to the federal Energy Department and other government officials asking that a technical study be initiated to study the impact of land acquisition on local residents.[4] A survey began in December 2015.[5]
Ahead of December 2015 local elections in Muzaffargarh district, virtually all candidates for local office in the area around Mahmoodkot came out in opposition to the proposed plant.[6]
In March 2016, police recorded two cases against 100 people under the Anti-Terrorism Act for attacking a coal power plant survey team. The case had been listed against 150 people in July 2015 but was negated following negotiations with locals. Officials met with residents of Verar Sipra, Rao Bela Sharqi, Gujrat, and Budh to calm concerns.[7] It was reported that some local landowners opposed the project due to being offered low prices for their land; others insisted that no compensation package would be acceptable. Residents and civil society activists opposed it on environmental grounds, noting that power plants in the area were already generating pollution.[8]
An October 2016 news article in Dawn suggested the project, along with the Kapco power station, may be cancelled due to local opposition: "DCO Hafiz Shaukat Ali said the district government had so far not been officially informed about the cancellation of the projects. However, celebrations among the people are already under way."[9]
With no developments since December 2015, plans for the project appear to be abandoned.
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Mian Abrar, "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — A new vista of development in South Asia," Pakistan Today, December 6, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "DCO seeks technical advice on Mahmoodkot coal power plants," Dawn, September 12, 2015
- ↑ "Farmers' protest for withdrawal of cases," Dawn, August 22, 2015
- ↑ "DCO seeks technical advice on Mahmoodkot coal power plants," Dawn, September 12, 2015
- ↑ "Survey for coal plants amid ‘voices of discontent,’" Dawn, December 28, 2015
- ↑ "UC candidates oppose coal power plants," Dawn, November 23, 2015
- ↑ Maria Hamid, "Cases lodged against 100 people under the Anti-Terrorism Act," Baaghi, March 6, 2016
- ↑ Ali Nobil Ahmad, "The vagaries of a new coal regime," TNS, March 20, 2016
- ↑ "Footprints: Resisting coal power generation," Dawn, October 14, 2016
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.
