KARACHI: In line with its commitment to strengthen power supply to the city of Karachi, the power utility has recently energized a new 220 KV Surjani Grid Station along with two 132 KV, Shadman and Old Golimar Grid Stations. In addition, 17 new 132/11 KV Power Transformers & 2 new 250 MVA 220/132 KV have also been installed & commissioned at new / existing grid stations to improve the electricity supply while work is progressing swiftly on the remaining grid stations and transmission infrastructure.
An event was held at K-Electric’s Site Gas Turbine Power Station in Karachi to inaugurate the newly installed Gas Insulated Substation complete switchgears & Controls, which would improve the power plant’s reliability & availability. At the event, alongside senior leadership of K-Electric, teams from project vendors including Siemens were also in attendance, including Helmut von Struve Managing Director Siemens Pakistan, Mahmood Hanafi, Executive Vice President Siemens Middle East and project teams from all partners. At the event Mahmood Hanafi spoke about Siemens’ partnership with K-Electric and said, “We have partnered with K-Electric for this Transmission Enhancement Project since 2015 and we have upgraded many sites along with adding new Grid Stations. Today we have achieved another milestone way before schedule as we have energized the power station, with latest & more efficient equipment which would ensure uninterrupted power supply to the people.”
Dale Sinkler, Chief Generation & Transmission Officer KE, reiterated the power utility’s commitment to strengthening power supply for its customers, adding that “The TP-1000 Project was conceived back in 2015 and as of now we have achieved nearly 90% of our overall commitment for this project. We would complete this project within the next few months. Construction of more grid stations and transmission lines is underway which will further enhance the supply of electricity in the city.” He also appreciated the efforts by Siemens Germany / Pakistan and Shanghai Electric of China for TP-1000 project
The USD 460 MN, TP-1000 project was initiated at the end of 2015 in collaboration with Siemens Germany/Pakistan and will add over 1,000 MVAs to KE’s network, enabling the utility to transmit additional 800 MW through a total of seven grid stations. The Project comprises of new 220KV and 132KV network, bay extensions, 6 new auto transformers, efficiency expansion plan for 21 existing grid stations which also includes addition of 28 power transformers and more than 400 new 11KV feeders to cater the growing demands of the city. Ten new 220KV and 132KV double and single circuit transmission lines of approximately 130Km are also being laid out whereas 3 existing 220KV and 132KV transmission circuits would be rehabilitated to increase the power carrying capacity and reliability. An additional Disaster Recovery Centre (Back up of Load Dispatch Center) would also help cope with emergency situations whereas new transmission lines, circuits and grids would help decrease the fault ratio, increase stability & reliability and fulfill supply of additional electricity to customers.