Nandipur power plant given in supervision of US company
Managing director and project director were sacked earlier for poor performance
GUJRANWALA (Dunya News) – Operations of Nandipur Power Project on Thursday have been given in supervision of United States (US) company.
Sources privy to the power ministry said that General Electric and its subcontractor Albario Engineering Private Ltd has taken charge of the project. At least 144 foreigners have reached the site to manage operations.
At least 425 Mega Watt (MW) electricity would be generated through the plant.
It should be mentioned here that Nandipur project’s Managing Director (MD) was sacked few weeks earlier for slackness and poor performance.
The government had indulged itself in talks with foreign companies following the MD’s removal from the post.
Meanwhile, project director, Shahid Suhail was also removed for workshirking.
The decision was taken even before the inquiry of alleged malpractices and corruption was called. The decision was taken on advice of the Board of Directors of the Genco-III, Ministry of Water and Power.
The ministry had appointed Shahzada Akbar as the new Project Director.
Work began on the Nandipur Power Project, a 425 MW combined cycle thermal plant, back in 2008 when the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) signed a contract with the Chinese Dong Fang Electric Corporation.
However the project suffered due to mismanagement and work was halted in September 2012.
The project was restarted by the incumbent government in 2013 with an escalated price tag on the project blamed on the shortcomings of the previous government.
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the first turbine of the plant on 31st May 2014 however work came to a grinding halt again as the project was plagued by mismanagement and suffered technical negligence such as use of inappropriate fuel.
The project was restarted in July 2015 but financial mismanagement, technical difficulties, negligence and lack of any check and balance system have been its constant companion causing the project to take a heavy toll on finances.
In October, Federal Secretary Water and Power Muhammad Younas Dagha, in an interview to Radio Pakistan said that the government is auditing the project with help of three reputed firms and stern action would be taken against the persons responsible for the issues with the project.
