Punjab to build coal-based power plants

REGULATION | Punjab to build coal-based power plants

Punjab will use its 235 million tonnes of coal reserves to set up power generation houses. In a report by Pakistan’s Dawn, it was said that raw sites for the coal-based power plants were already identified by the Punjab government.

The sites identified in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot will each house 50MW coal-powered plants. Punjab’s sub-bituminous coal reserves are considered suitable for power generation as they have low ash and high sulfur. They are currently available in the districts of Jhelum, Chakwal, Khushab and Mianwali.

Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad said the power plants will be set up through public-private partnership or on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. To promote private sector partnership in power generation, the Punjab Power Development Board has been set up to assist private investors in the execution of power projects.