Sialkot exporters to build 200MW power plant

Lahore: After having a self-funded airport and Dry Port projects, the exporters' community in Sialkot is now heading seriously towards setting up 200MW power plant on self support basis.

Sources in the Sialkot exporters community informed that a meeting was held recently in this connection where representatives from Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry and different trade bodies considered seriously of putting up a power plant in private sector with a generation capacity ranging between 150 MW to 200MW.

'Contacts are made with one leading electric company in Lahore to have back-up information on the project and a delegation of Sialkot exporters is due to visit it after Eid holidays,' said sources.

The power consumption of Sialkot's export-led industry ranges between 250 - 300MW at present and the exporters are thinking seriously to install a power generation plant through self-funding like they did earlier in the case of Rs2.5 billion Sialkot International Airport project as well as the Sialkot Dry Port project.

Sources in the Sialkot exporters' community said concerns of this export-oriented city are mounting with everyday increase in power shortages. These circles further believe that the government would not be able to meet a power shortage of 5000MW by December 2009, as claimed by the PPP-led government. Therefore, they said, the Sialkot exporters have decided to build their own power generation resources instead of relying upon fragile government claims.

Important developments are expected to take place on the project after Eid when the Sialkot city exporters would be negotiating with a leading electric appliances company in Lahore. Sources have further pointed out that the concerned company may also be ready to have a joint venture with Sialkot exporters in the project.

However, no estimates of setting up 200MW power generation plants were available with the exporters and they pointed out that a meeting with electrical company would be helpful in this regard.