In an effort to lower system and line losses and improve the voltage profile of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), as well as to provide uninterrupted supply to the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park, an under-construction special economic zone, near Sheikhupura on the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway, the National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) is ready to launch two mega projects of new grid stations and transmission lines on Saturday (today) (M-2).
Could be a Game Changer for LESCO Regions?
The Sheikhupura-Muridke Road’s “500/220/132kV Lahore North Substation and Associated 500kV & 220kV Transmission Lines Project” is the first project, and the “Quaid-e-Azam Business Park” project is the second (QABP).
The Lahore North Substation Project would be funded in part by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through loan No. 3677-Pak: Second Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Programme — Tranche-3, according to documents made available to Dawn.
The project is titled “Procurement of Plant — Design, Supply, Installation, and Commissioning of 500/220/132 Lahore North Substation and Extension Works at 500/220/132kV Nokhar Substation” and is being funded by an ADB loan programme.
A renowned Chinese company (M/S CET, China) has been given the contract for the building of the Rs20.732 billion (PC-1 cost) Lahore North substation, which is scheduled to be finished by March 2024.
Three enormous transformers with a combined capacity of 750MVA and as many with 250MVA will be installed as part of the project. Meeting the energy needs of the LESCO region and bolstering the NTDC system are the main goals of the project.
It would contribute to enhancing the voltage profile, particularly in the LESCO 132kV network, at the projected Lahore North substation.
DON’T YOU THINK?
The 500/220 kV and 220/132 kV systems at the Lahore Old (Sheikhupura), Nokhar/Gujranwala, and Lahore South substations would see less loading and overloading as a result.
The project will not only enhance the NTDC and LESCO system networks’ reliability, but it will also add another source of power supply to help LESCO meet its expanding demand.
According to the documents, it will contribute to a 36.6MW reduction in system losses for LESCO and NTDC. The areas/stations that will benefit from this project include those within LESCO’s control at Kala Shah Kaku, Attabad, Fatepuri, Ravi, Sherwala, Bhati Gate, Badami Bagh, and Shadarah.
What do You Think?
The 500/220 kV and 220/132 kV systems at the Lahore Old (Sheikhupura), Nokhar/Gujranwala, and Lahore South substations would see less loading and overloading as a result.
The project will not only enhance the NTDC and LESCO system networks’ reliability, but it will also add another source of power supply to help LESCO meet its expanding demand.
According to the documents, it will contribute to a 36.6MW reduction in system losses for LESCO and NTDC. The areas/stations that will benefit from this project include those within LESCO’s control at Kala Shah Kaku, Attabad, Fatepuri, Ravi, Sherwala, Bhati Gate, Badami Bagh, and Shadarah.
Under contract number NOR-121W3-2022, the second project, named “Construction of 220/132KV Quaid-e-Azam Business Park substation,” is now being carried out (civil works, erection, testing and commissioning of grid station near Sheikupura).
The construction of a substation with two transformers—one 250MVA and the other 220/132kV—is the project’s main objective.
The Punjab Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (PIEDMC), a QABP regulator and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) designated by the government put out the project proposal.
The QABP is located in the Sheikhupura district alongside the M-2 highway. Meeting the load demand of the QABP being developed by PIEDMC is the project’s main goal.
Executing the suggested project will provide QABP with a dependable and steady supply that will enable it to meet the increasing load demand over the long term.
In accordance with the Grid Code and responsible utility practises, PIEDMC will create the internal infrastructure for power distribution on its own, comply with all legal requirements, and obtain clearance from the regulator and Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA).
The NTDC has already built the project’s auxiliary transmission lines, two 220kV double circuit transmission lines on a single rail conductor for looping into and out of the existing 220kV Bandala – Kala Shah Kaku line at 220/132kV QABP.
The QABP is a historic project with 1,860 acres of land and a dedicated highway interchange at its doorstep, according to PIEDMC. Additionally, 200 acres have been set aside for a labour colony, which will house 30,000 project workers.
Conclusion
The project will be able to create 250,000 new jobs after it is finished, both for trained and unskilled employees, and it will also empower a skilled female workforce.
According to an NTDC representative, the building of both grid stations will begin on December 10 (Saturday) under the direction of the Minister of Energy (Power Division), Khurram Dastgir Khan.