State-owned Chinese investor keen on four Pakistani energy projects

Projects include solar, wind and coal.

China Power Investment Corporation has identified four energy projects in Pakistan for immediate investment. Vice President Zhiyig Wang, however, said that the start-up of these projects depends on tariff approval from the regulator.

Two coal-fired power projects will to be set up in the Thar desert region along the Sino-Pakistan border. Each will be capable of generating 900 MW and will require a total investment of US$2.12 billion. The plants will burn 10 million tonnes of coal a year.

CPIC also intends to build a 660 MW power plant in Lahore and would partner with the Punjab government for development, investment, construction, operation and management of the power plant.

Another project is a 300 MW solar power project in Bahawalpur, the 11th largest city in Pakistan. CPIC is also planning a 500 MW to 1000MW wind energy project. The site for this project will be decided by the Pakistani government.

CPIC is one of the five largest state-owned electricity producers in China. It supplies 10% of China’s power and installed 80,074 MW of capacity in 2012.