Nepra grants power transmission licence to Sindh government

KARACHI: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has licenced the Sindh government-run transmission company to transmit electricity from its power generation plants through 85-kilometre line to K-Electric, said an official.  

The Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) will set up transmission network for evacuation of power from Sindh government’s two power plants being established in Nooriabad, the official added.

“The initiative is expected to revolutionise the power sector by reducing bottlenecks in the existing transmission network,” the official said.  

“With the timely laying of transmission lines power generation will be able to supply electricity in an efficient manner thus reducing the line losses. Through such initiatives, the country will gradually develop an efficient transmission and distribution system.”

Government of Sindh is setting up two natural gas-based generation facilities with a cumulative installed capacity of 104.20 megawatts at SITE Nooriabad, Deh Kalo Kohar, Tehsil Taluka Thano Bola Khan, district Jamshoro.   Nepra said Sindh government is developing the generation facilities with an estimated cost of $136 million.

The electricity will be supplied to K-Electric Limited (KEL). 

In order to connect the said generation facilities to the system of KEL, Sindh government approached Hyderabad Electric Supply Company Limited and National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC) for the construction of transmission network.

However, the official said, both the entities expressed their inability to construct the transmission facilities with the target commissioning dates of the generation facilities due to the non-availability of the required funds.

“Subsequently, Sindh government decided to construct, own and operate the transmission and interconnection arrangement itself,” said the official.

According to K-Electric, the evacuation of power from the said generation facilities to the load center of KEL requires construction of a new 132 KV D/C transmission line of around 85km in length.

KEL also requested the Nepra to grant special purpose transmission licence to STDC.

The timely completion of the interconnection and dispersal facilities to the network of K-Electric is critical for success of the said project.

“The transmission of electric power from the Nooriabad generation facilities using the proposed transmission facilities will play a vital role in the economic activity and growth of industrial sector of the country,” said the Nepra document.

The official said the special purpose transmission regime will enhance the existing capacity as well as result in installation of new transmission infrastructure.