Pakistan Approves Setting up of New LNG Based Power Plant

The Pakistani cabinet committee on energy June 6 gave an in-principle approval to setting up of a new 1,200-MW LNG-based power plant in order to further augment power supply in the country, which is facing sever power shortages.

Details about the location of the plant was not provided. 

The meeting was chaired by prime minister Nawaz Sharif who said that pro-active planning should be exercised regarding power supply and demand, state owned broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported June 6.

LNG as fuel is gaining currency in Pakistan due to attractive global prices and dwindling supply of locally produced gas. The south Asian country started importing LNG a couple of years back and has one operational import terminal. A few more import terminals are expected to come up in coming years as LNG is expected to take a bigger share in country’s energy mix.

In April, Sharif inaugurated the gas-fired combined cycle power plant at Bhikki in the state of Punjab. In the same month, the 525-MW Nandipur power plant, also in Punjab state, began running on regasified LNG. The plant previously ran on fuel oil.

Shardul Sharma