Sahiwal project: a power construction miracle

The Sahiwal Thermal Power Plant, built by POWERCHINA, passed a final evaluation by China Huaneng Group on Aug 17.

POWERCHINA's Sahiwal project has come to a close. The project has so far received numerous honors and zero mishaps. Generating nine billion kWh of electricity per year, the plant meets the energy demands of 10 million Pakistanis and has reduced the country's electricity shortage by 25 percent.

The 2×660MW coal-fired power plant was developed by POWERCHINA using the "F+EPC" (Fund raising and Engineering Procurement Construction) model. The project was funded by China Huaneng Group and built by SEPCO1, POWERCHINA's subsidiary in Shandong province.

The construction started on July 31, 2015 and its two major generators were put into production after just 22 months. On Oct 28, 2017, the power plant was approved for commercial operations by the Pakistan Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA) on Oct 27, after passing all required tests.

The plant experienced no personnel injury, equipment damage or environmental pollution during the construction period. POWERCHINA's Sahiwal project has received 55 awards from China and 44 from Pakistan, including the "Outstanding Contribution Award" signed by the Pakistani Prime Minister himself.

In its pursuit of innovative development, excellence and quality, POWERCHINA assigned its most professional teams to the project. They encountered various obstacles, including high temperatures in the summer, foggy weather in the winter, and the lengthy customs clearance period for construction equipment.

However, the POWERCHINA teams managed to complete the project ahead of schedule in just 22 months -- a new record for the company's overseas construction. Sahiwal Thermal Power Plant is currently the largest coal-fired plant in Pakistan and has the largest installed capacity, highest operation efficiency, most advanced technologies and is the most environmentally friendly of any coal-fired plant in the country.

The project was praised by the Pakistani government as "an electric power miracle in Pakistan" and established a strong brand image for POWERCHINA.

As the first project constructed using both Chinese and Pakistani standards, Sahiwal Thermal Power Plant will serve as an example for future power construction projects along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).