Huaneng Pakistan Sahiwal Power Plant was completed and put into operation

On July 3, the completion ceremony of Huaneng Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant was held in Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan, marking that the first major energy project within the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the largest overseas coal-fired power plant invested and constructed by Chinese enterprise was completed and put into operation. More than 1,000 people attended the ceremony, including Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab and other Pakistani government officials,  Cao Peixi, Chairman of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan and other distinguished guests from all walks of life in China and Pakistan.

Shehbaz Sharif thanked China Huaneng Group for its outstanding contribution to the development of electric power in Pakistan. He pointed out that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the common dream of China and Pakistan, and the completion of Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant is the first step to realize the dream. The construction of this project is a historic breakthrough. The project is completed and put into operation six months ahead of schedule and will bring revolutionary changes to the economic development of Pakistan. Pakistani people will never forget China's support for Pakistan. The construction of the Corridor is of great significance to the energy and infrastructure construction in Pakistan.

Cao Peixi expressed sincere gratitude to the Pakistani Government, National Energy Administration of China and the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan for their support and assistance in the project construction. He said that Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant is completed and put into operation within just 22 months and 8 days and creates the "Sahiwal Speed". It is currently the coal-fired power project with largest unit capacity, with the most advanced technology, the best environmental protection indexes and the fastest construction speed in Pakistan. Huaneng will continue to earnestly carry out the “Belt and Road” Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, vigorously carry forward the “Silk Road Spirit”, and adhere to the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. The Company will continue to intensify strategic cooperation with Pakistan and Punjab Province in energy field and make new and greater contributions to the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and to the economic and social development of Pakistan.

Before the ceremony, Cao Peixi accompanied Nur Bekri, Shehbaz Sharif, Sun Weidong and other guests to visit the production site of Sahiwal Coal-fired Power Plant and unveiled the nameplate for completion of the project on boiler floor together.

Consisting of two 660MW supercritical coal-fired generating units, Sahiwal Power Plant is a "priority" project in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the first large-scale overseas high-efficiency clean coal power project of Huaneng in response to the “Belt and Road” Initiative. The project commenced construction in July 2015. The two units completed 168-hour full load trial operation on May 24 and June 8, 2017 respectively, and were put into operation 200 days ahead of the contract schedule. During construction, the company vigorously promoted energy conservation and emission reduction, and developed cutting-edge power generation technologies, which led to environmental protection indexes such as desulphurization and dust removal far better than the national emission standards of Pakistan. The safe, high-quality and efficient construction of the power plant has created a miracle in the history of power construction in Pakistan.

As a green and environmentally-friendly coal-fired power plant, Sahiwal Power Plant will generate more than 9000GWh of electricity annually, which is expected to meet the power demand of 10 million people in Pakistan and fill a quarter of Pakistan's power gap. After the project is put into operation, it is also expected to effectively improve local employment rate and promote the development of other related industries such as building materials industry, logistics industry and processing manufacturing industry etc.