SEPA Holds Public Hearing On TNPTL Power Plant

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 06th Oct, 2016 ) : Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) held public hearing on ThalNova Power Thar Private Ltd(TNPTL) 330 MW coal based power plant on Thursday.

A statement said that the public hearing was headed by Director General SEPA, Naeem Mughal. SEPA's Deputy Director Technical Imran Sabir, Dr. Ahmad Hussain, Professor of Mechanical Engineering NED University and Ph.D, Coal Combustion, and COO TNPTL Zulfiqar Ali Rana were also present at the occasion.

Representative of TNPTL gave a detailed presentation on the project. It was pointed out that TNPTL intends to develop a 330 MW power plant based on Thar lignite coal and shall be located at the power park site within Block II, Thar Coalfields, District Tharparkar, in Sindh.

One of the biggest issues of power sector in Pakistan is the expensive power generation; cost-effective electricity production through Thar coal will help reducing the power sector deficit and ultimately bring down the circular debt.

Project will contribute 330MW of cost competitive electricity annually into the National Grid under a 30 year PPA with NTDC. Thar based projects such as TNPTL will provide energy security to the country.

The Power project shall use CFB technology and aims to have an efficiency of 37%. The coal plant being designed and procured for this project is State of the Art Sub- Critical Technology. CFB technology is considered one of the best technologies to control SOX levels.

Latest global coal technologies and equipment are being used to ensure minimal emissions levels.

Electro Static Precipitators (ESPs) are installed to control particulate matter emissions. TNPTL is employing all these technologies and will spend significant amount of project cost on these pollution control technologies.

A detailed Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) has been carried by Hagler Bailly, an international reputed firm . The site will follow all SEQS (Sindh Environment Quality Standards).

The parent groups of TNPTL have a proven track record of operating socially responsible businesses in Pakistan and strongly believe in engaging local communities in the areas where they operate.

TNPTL shall endeavor to play a positive influence on the local community of Tharparkar. The Company shall have a strong focus in areas of Employment, Health, Education, Training and Development of indigenous population of the local community.

The Company shall work with its partners to develop and enhance the infrastructure available for health and education facilities in Thar. ThalNova Power Thar Private Ltd (TNPTL) is a joint venture between Thal Limited and Novatex Limited.

Thal is part of the House of Habib - one of the most respected business houses in Pakistan with investments across banking, auto, retail, building materials and packaging sectors in Pakistan. Novatex is part of the Gani & Tayub group which is a leading player in the polyester and textile sectors of Pakistan and contributes a major component of the total exports of the country.