The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has inked agreements with a US-based firm Global EnviroScience Technologies for the installation of a 4,000 mega watts power plant and a 100 million gallon (daily) desalination plant with an investment of US$2.8 billion and US$150 million respectively.
The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on Sunday by the representatives of the CDGK and the Californian firm. On behalf of the CDGK, the Managing Director of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB), Ghulam Arif Khan, signed the documents for desalination plant while the Executive District Officer (EDO) Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP), Dr Shahab Imam, signed the MoU for the power plant.
The US firm was represented by its Chairman Martin Lizer. The ceremony was attended by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, US Consul General in Karachi Ms Katherine, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Karachi Javed Hanif and other officers.
Under the agreement, the CDGK will provide 400 acres land to the company for the installation of the power plant and 50 acres for the establishment of the desalination plant in Korangi. In the first phase, the company will complete the installation of the power plant with a 2,000 mega watts capacity in a period of 18 months.
Kamal, addressing the signing ceremony, said that the power plant will help overcome the shortage of electricity in the country, mainly in Karachi. He said that a major economic and industrial growth has been seen in the country due to the positive policies adopted by the present government.
“Industrial progress along with a significant raise in the standard of citizens’ lives have enabled even the middle class to afford air conditioners in their homes. The sale of air conditioners have increased in the last few years by several thousand units resulting in more demand for electricity thus creating a difference between the supply and demand of power,” said Kamal.
He further said that the federal government has already approved the installation of the 4,000 mega watts power plant in Karachi that will be operational in 18 months and the plant will also help to fulfill the power requirements of future industries in the city. Moreover, he said that the present requirement of water in Karachi is 600 mgd, which is quite enough. However, the present government have turned to desalination plants, he said.
“Already, the installation of a 50mgd desalination plant is under progress in Hawkes Bay and now we have initiated work on another such plant with 100 mgd capacity. All these projects will bring about positive changes in the lives of common citizens, who will get livelihood with both of these projects,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Global EnviroScience Technologies, Martin Lizer, addressing the ceremony, said that, being one of the biggest firms of the world, his company will install pollution-free plants in Karachi with the aim to serve citizens. He further viewed that the introduction of American Technology in both of these projects will provide more convenience to the common man in Karachi.