Priority gas pipeline project delay hits power plants
Friday, 31 January 2014
Despite repeated reminders by the Power Division about its urgency for power plants’ operation, the Energy Division could not yet complete the government’s ‘high priority Siddhirganj Gas Transmission Pipeline Project’.
Already in operation generating 120 MW of power, 412MW Haripur Power Plant cannot run with its full-swing capacity for inadequate gas supply, reports UNB Jan 31.
According to official sources, the 30-inch dia 60-km long gas transmission pipeline from Bakhrabad Gas Field to Siddhirganj Power Station was scheduled to be completed in August last year.
“But, we apprehend it might not be completed before May or June this year because of the slow progress of work. If the situation doesn’t improve, the project will finally be delayed by a year affecting power plant operation,” said a top official at the Power Division.
Explaining it further, he said one of the major tasks in the project is “river crossing” under which the pipeline will be built under riverbeds at different points of a number of rivers.
State-owned Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) is implementing the project and its contractor, Turkish firm FERNAS Construction Company Inc, is engaged in laying the pipeline from Bakhrabad Gas Field to Siddhirganj Power Station.
Officials said Bakhrabad-Siddhirganj Gas Transmission Pipeline Project was undertaken by the government as a priority one to supply natural gas to a number of large and important power plant projects, including 300-450 MW Siddhirganj, 300-450 MW Meghnaghat, and 412 MW Haripur combined cycle power plants.