PowerChina provides power, protects environment for Pakistan

Monthly electricity production of the China-backed Port Qasim coal-fired power plant in Pakistan surpassed 900 gigawatt-hours (GWh) for the first time in July. The plant expects to provide about 4,500 GWh of electricity annually, easing the power shortage in the country.

The plant was built by Power Construction Corporation of China (also known as PowerChina), a leading power engineering contractor. It is the first large-scale cooperation project in power resources under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

China-backed Port Qasim coal-fired power plant in Pakistan at work. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

The two units of the plant were put into commercial operation on April 25. The construction only took 32 months. The plant optimizes local energy structures to back up local supply. It also provides job opportunities and promotes regional economic development.

Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Ltd, operator of the power plant, said it adopts the idea of sustainable and green development.

It generates cheap and high-quality electricity by introducing advanced technologies, such as sophisticated methods of cooling down and desalinating sea water. The process can help save the limited supply of fresh water and protect the local ecological environment.

The company also poured about 2 million yuan ($290,000) over the last two years into planting 125 acres (50.5 hectares) of mangrove forests.

Port Qasim Electric Power won the 2018 Annual Environment Excellence Awards of the Pakistani government.

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)