Karachi 20, march, 2022: Lucky Electric Power Company Limited has achieved COD of its 660MW coal fired power plant today located at Deh Ghangiaro, Bin Qasim, Karachi. Lucky Electric Power Company is a 100% owned subsidiary of Lucky Cement Limited. Initially, the project was supposed to be operational by March 2021. It is the first project that will begin power production on Thar’s lignite coal outside the vicinity of coalmines.
Lucky Electric Power Company Limited (LEPCL), a subsidiary of the conglomerate, is setting up the project at Bin Qasim, Karachi with estimated investment of over $850 million and project is financed with 75 : 25 debt equity ratio. Project financing has come from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, among others and construction work has performed by SEPCO III Electric Power Construction.
Financial close was announced on June 26, 2018. The consortium of lenders includes Habib Bank, United Bank of Pakistan, National Bank of Pakistan, Alfalah Bank, Askari Bank, Soneri Bank, Bank of Punjab, Meezan Bank, Faysal Bank, and Dubai Islamic Bank and is providing US$825 million in loans. Lucky Cement is providing US$275 million in equity.
The project is estimated to add PKR14-15 billion in Lucky cements annual profitability. In April 2018, Lucky Electric Power signed a coal supply agreement with Sindh Engro Coal Mining for the delivery of 3.6 million tons of coal per annum from Sindh’s open-pit mine in block-II of the Thar Mine.
The LEPCL project site is spread over 250 acres in Deh Ghangiaro in Bin Qasim Town near the Port Qasim area, where similar coal-fired power projects are at different stages of approval or construction. The site area is sufficient for setting up two 660 MW super critical units. Site evaluations were performed to select the most technically and financially feasible site for the project.
The 500 kV Double Circuit Quad Bundle Transmission Lines for interconnection of Lucky Electric Coal Power Plant with Port Qasim-Matiari Ckt was energized November 16, 2021. The Contract No: TLC-08-2019 was awarded to M/s M.R. Electric Concern by the NTDC for evacuation of power from 660MW Lucky Electric Coal Power Plant to HVDC Converter Station Matiari.
Lucky Electric Power Company Limited (LEPCL) earlier this year has awarded a third debt arrangement mandate to the Bank of Punjab (BOP) to raise an additional Rs5 billion working capital after the bank raised Rs7.9 billion debt financing for the company in two tranches.
About The Plant Technology
This project consists of 1 x 660MW Super Critical Coal based high efficiency Low NOx Power Plant. Internationally recognized standards and statutory regulations will be followed for the plant and its equipment design, manufacturing, assembling, and testing.
The general trend in recent coal-fired power plants is to build larger size units, and most of the new coal-fired units built in the last five years have been in the 600 MW to 1,000 MW size range.
The advanced technology will consist of supercritical boilers, state of the art steam turbines and air emission controls including low-NOX burners, flue gas desulfurization, particulate collection, and continuous emission monitoring.
The Project will be based on proven technologies and use advanced coal plant designs to achieve efficient operation and competitive tariff.
The Project will be complete consisting of boiler, associated steam turbines, feed cycle, balance-ofplant equipment, electrical and l&C, material handling, coal receival, liquid fuel receival, coal piles, colony and other components.
Fuel Range
The boiler will be designed to burn a wide variety of bituminous imported coal from many potential sources. This is addressed in the fuel source section. This provides a range of fuel that would support economical fuel purchase.
Fuel sulfur content was also evaluated and a seawater flue gas desulfurization system can also be added, provided to burn higher content sulfur fuels which may be economically attractive to purchase.
The warm-up and ignition fuel will be high speed diesel (#2 diesel) oil. This fuel will provide initial firing and will stabilize the combustion until the coal flames are stable, about 30% to 35% load. Details of the design depend on the specific supplier chosen for the Project.
About Lucky Cement
Lucky Cement Limited is the flagship company of YBG, which has a solid history of exceptional growth performance since its inception in 1993. In Pakistan, Lucky Cement has evolved into a premium cement manufacturer delivering consistent quality, providing unmatched customer satisfaction, utilizing state-of-the-art vertical and horizontal grinding technology, and most importantly, benefiting from low production costs.
Lucky Cement is one of the largest producers and leading exporters of quality cement in Pakistan and is listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The company has also issued Global Depository Receipts (GDRs), listed and traded on the Professional Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Over the years, the Company has grown substantially and is expanding its business operations with production facilities at strategic locations in Karachi to cater to the Southern regions and Pezu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to furnish the Northern areas of the country. Lucky Cement is Pakistan’s first company to export sizeable quantities of loose cement being the only cement manufacturer to have its own loading and storage terminal at Karachi Port.
Lucky Cement strives to remain an efficient and low cost producer and is one of the pioneers to introduce and install Waste Heat Recovery and Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Tyre Derived Fuel (TDF) Plants in Pakistan. It also has self-sufficient Captive power generation facility of 180 MW and supplies additionally generated electricity to support the National grid. Lucky Cement owns a fleet of Bulkers & Trailers, which gives added advantage in terms of logistics and efficient deliveries to all types of customers spread across the length and breadth of the country.
