The Punjab Government's plan to sell
surplus power to Pakistan Punjab in the near future is set to become a
reality with the Centre agreeing to allow Pakistan to import 500 mw of
power from the country.
The Union Power Ministry's power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan. Punjab's power utility's grid at Makhu in Amritsar district is closest to this grid. Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion. Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim official sources.
Ever since the Indian delegation led by Union Power Ministry Joint Secretary Reeta Acharya made the offer to allow Pakistan to import 500 MW of power from India in June this year, the Punjab Government has gone ahead and established a power trading company. The company will handle surplus power which Punjab expects to begin producing by 2014.
Once all three power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal. Around 1.630 MW is likely to be generated this year. Much of this will be surplus during the winter months and offloading power could be a headache for the state power utility.
If Pakistan chooses to purchase power from India, it would be a win-win deal for both Punjabs. Pakistan Punjab, particularly Lahore, is reeling under a power shortage even as the country is short of 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of power. Punjab, which is bound to purchase the power produced by all the three private thermal plants coming up in the state, would have had to find ways and means to offload the same during the lean months. Under the present arrangement with the three companies, Punjab will get power between Rs 3.50 to Rs 3.70 per unit. In Pakistan Punjab, the power rate is Rs 10 (Indian) per unit.
The Principal Secretary, Power, Anirudh Tewari, said Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had offered to sell power to Pakistan during a visit to Pakistan in November 2012. He said a delegation from Pakistan was likely to visit India soon to carry forward this process. Sources said Pakistan was keen to import as much as 1,000 mw of power from India.
The Pakistan Government has been asked to construct a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system to isolate the Pakistan grid from the Indian grid to ensure that tripping in Pakistan does not affect the Indian system. This entails a cost of Rs 600 crore to justify which Pakistan may ask for more power.
Sources said while the Centre will lay a transmission line from Amritsar to Attari, Pakistan will do so from Wagah to Lahore. This could take a year.
Cross-border grid
Union Power Ministry’s power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan
Punjab's power utility grid at Makhu in Amritsar is closest to this grid
Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion
Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim sources
Once the power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal
The Union Power Ministry's power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan. Punjab's power utility's grid at Makhu in Amritsar district is closest to this grid. Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion. Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim official sources.
Ever since the Indian delegation led by Union Power Ministry Joint Secretary Reeta Acharya made the offer to allow Pakistan to import 500 MW of power from India in June this year, the Punjab Government has gone ahead and established a power trading company. The company will handle surplus power which Punjab expects to begin producing by 2014.
Once all three power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal. Around 1.630 MW is likely to be generated this year. Much of this will be surplus during the winter months and offloading power could be a headache for the state power utility.
If Pakistan chooses to purchase power from India, it would be a win-win deal for both Punjabs. Pakistan Punjab, particularly Lahore, is reeling under a power shortage even as the country is short of 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of power. Punjab, which is bound to purchase the power produced by all the three private thermal plants coming up in the state, would have had to find ways and means to offload the same during the lean months. Under the present arrangement with the three companies, Punjab will get power between Rs 3.50 to Rs 3.70 per unit. In Pakistan Punjab, the power rate is Rs 10 (Indian) per unit.
The Principal Secretary, Power, Anirudh Tewari, said Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had offered to sell power to Pakistan during a visit to Pakistan in November 2012. He said a delegation from Pakistan was likely to visit India soon to carry forward this process. Sources said Pakistan was keen to import as much as 1,000 mw of power from India.
The Pakistan Government has been asked to construct a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system to isolate the Pakistan grid from the Indian grid to ensure that tripping in Pakistan does not affect the Indian system. This entails a cost of Rs 600 crore to justify which Pakistan may ask for more power.
Sources said while the Centre will lay a transmission line from Amritsar to Attari, Pakistan will do so from Wagah to Lahore. This could take a year.
Cross-border grid
Union Power Ministry’s power grid at Amritsar has been designated as station from where power will flow to Pakistan
Punjab's power utility grid at Makhu in Amritsar is closest to this grid
Hence, Punjab can easily transfer power to the Union grid without any problems of congestion
Punjab is well-equipped to commit power to Pakistan on a long-term basis, claim sources
Once the power plants at Goindwal, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura become operational next year, Punjab will have an additional 3,920 MW of power at its disposal
