ThalNova power station
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ThalNova power station is an operating power station of at least 330-megawatts (MW) in Singhara, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan. It is also known as Thar Block Unit 4, Hubco Thar Block II minemouth power station, Thar Engro 4.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| ThalNova power station | Singhara, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan | 24.815456, 70.388369 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- ': 24.815456, 70.388369
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| operating[1] | coal: lignite | 330[1] | CFB | 2023[1] |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Owner | Parent |
|---|---|
| ThalNova Power (Private) Ltd [100%] | Hub Power Co Ltd [37.0%]; Novatex Ltd [26.0%]; Thal Ltd [26.0%]; China National Machinery Industry Corp [10.0%]; Descon [1.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Thar block II
Background
The Thar Energy Limited power station and the ThalNova power station were formerly the second phase of the Thar Block II power station, but have spun off into two separate projects with separate ownership.
Since at least 2016, ThalNova — which began as a joint venture of Thal Limited and Novatex — has been planning to build a fourth 330-MW coal-fired generating unit at the Thar Block II mine.[2] In February 2017, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority granted a generation license to the project.[3] In April 2017, ThalNova signed an engineering, procurement, & construction (EPC) contract with China Machinery Engineering Corporation.[4]
By December 2018, after several shifts in ownership stakes, ThalNova was owned by Hub Power Company (Hubco) (37%), Thal Limited (31.5%), China Machinery Engineering Corporation (10%), and Descon Engineering Limited (1%); it is unclear who owns the remaining 20.5%.[5] In April 2019, ThalNova signed loan agreements with China Development Bank, China Minsheng Bank, China Zheshang Bank, and Habib Bank for the plant's construction.[6]
In May 2019, the provincial Chief Minister directed Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, the company operating the Thar Block II coal mine, to expand production in order to produce enough coal to feed the Thar Energy Limited and ThalNova power stations.[7]
In July 2019, it was reported that the Private Power Infrastructure Board had deferred the deadline for finalizing financial support for the proposed plant until March 2021,[8] with commissioning expected by 2022.[9]
In January 2020, Chinese company Sino Sindh Resources said it had reached financial close on the project.[10]
In September 2020, a financing agreement for the project was closed. US$373 million in loans was provided by the China Development Bank, other Chinese banks, Habib Bank, and other Pakistani banks. US$124 million in equity was provided by Hub Power, Thal Limited, Novatex, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and Descon.[11][12]
According to the Pakistan government, the plant is under construction.[13]
Pakistan’s Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-30 approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority in September 2021 listed the project for commissioning in June 2022.[14]
In August 2021, the plant was included in a list of power projects facing delays in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The related article attributed the construction timeline extension to COVID-19.[15]
As of January 2022, work was reportedly 51% complete.[16]
One April 2022 article published by Engro Energy stated that the plant would come online in September or October 2023.[17]
On December 30, 2022, it was reported that the plant was complete.[18][19] The power station began commercial operation in February 2023.[20][21]
As of May 2024, ThalNova power station was reportedly not operating at full capacity due to system constraints.[22]
Financing
Source of financing: US$373 million in debt from the China Development Bank, other Chinese banks, Habib Bank, and other Pakistani banks; US$124 million in equity from Hub Power, Thal Limited, Novatex, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and Descon[11]
As of February 2024, Pakistan reportedly owed Rs493 billion (US$1.8 billion) to Chinese companies related to power projects in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Rs7 billion (US$25 million) was due to Thar Energy Limited and ThalNova. The total amount due had increased 77% in seven months.[23]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125153541/https://www.brecorder.com/news/40285670/ajax-request. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "ThalNova plans power plant," The News, October 7, 2016
- ↑ "Thalnova Power Thar awarded power generation licence," Express Tribune, February 2, 2017
- ↑ "Thal Power to invest $ 58.7 million in ThalNova," Mettis Global, April 12, 2018
- ↑ "Hubco Completes Acquisition of 37 Percent Stakes of ThalNova Power," ProPakistani.pk, December 10, 2018
- ↑ "CMEC cooperates with Pakistani companies," Sinomach press release, May 8, 2019
- ↑ "Hubco to set up two power projects in Thar," Express Tribune, May 7, 2019
- ↑ Faizan Hashmi, "PPIB Extends Financial Closing Deadlines Of Azad Pattan, Thar Coal Projects," Urdu Point, July 15, 2019
- ↑ "Growth Aspirations," Hubco, accessed December 2019
- ↑ "Financial close achieved for 1,980MW Sindh power plants," Dawn, January 2, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Preview of Thar Block-II ThalNova Coal-Fired Plant (330MW) IPP," IJGlobal, accessed November 19, 2020
- ↑ "Govt achieves financial close for 330MW coal plant," The News, October 2, 2020
- ↑ "Upcoming IPPs," Pakistan government, updated December 4, 2020
- ↑ “Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-30,” National Transmission and Despatch Company, September 2021
- ↑ “5 CPEC power projects face delays,” Dawn, August 3, 2021
- ↑ "330MW HUBCO ThalNova Thar Coal Power Project," CPEC, accessed January 2022
- ↑ “Coal termed hedge against world fuel price volatility,” Engro Energy, April 25, 2022
- ↑ "ANOTHER PROJECT ON THAR COAL STARTS POWER GENERATION". www.ppib.gov.pk. December 30, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "New coal power plant launched in Thar". gulfnews.com. December 30, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "PPIB announces COD of 330MW ThalNova Power Project," Business Recorder, February 18, 2023
- ↑ "Successful Commercial Operations of ThalNova - 330MW Thar coal power plant," HUBCO, February 17, 2023
- ↑ "PPIB asks SECMC to supply Thar coal to LEPCL," Business Recorder, May 15, 2024
- ↑ "Dues to Chinese IPPs hit record $1.8b," The Express Tribune, February 24, 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
