Hub Power : Successful Commercial Operations of ThalNova - 330MW Thar coal power plant

Commercial Operations of ThalNova - 330MW Thar coal power plant

HUBCO's 330MW lignite fired power plant has successfully achieved its commercial operations date on 17th February 2023. ThalNova is a 330 MW mine-mouthlignite-fired power plant at Thar Coal Block II Sindh and is a part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Project is a joint venture among Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO), Thal Limited, Novatex Limited, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and Descon Engineering Limited. The foreign financing for the Project was arranged from a Chinese syndicate, led by China Development Bank whereas the local financing has been arranged via a syndicate led by Habib Bank Limited. The project started construction in March 2019 from sponsor's equity to ensure timely Commercial Operation Date (COD) and begin utilizing the local resource of Thar coal as soon as possible.

ThalNova is a European technology-based power plant with the Boiler, Turbine and Generator designed and manufactured by world renowned company General Electric. This leads to higher reliability standards and controls emissions to even lower than that allowed limits by SEPA. The plant would generate electricity at extremely affordable rates.

ThalNova utilizes indigenous Thar coal, which is sourced through Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), a joint venture initiative of which HUBCO is also a shareholder. The utilization

of indigenous fuel is a development that will further aid in revolutionizing the Pakistani energy sector. Amidst the current economic scenario and soaring prices of fuel, cheaper energy production via the Thar coal would immensely impact Pakistan's development. Utilization of local fuel will significantly support the nation to become proficient in supporting its own energy needs through local resources.

In 2019, with the vision of empowering the locals of Thar, several locals from Thar were inducted and trained at HUBCO's Hub plant in Balochistan. These trainees are now working as engineers and technicians at ThalNova and Thar Energy Limited (TEL) which is another similar power plant that HUBCO has set up in the same vicinity. In the future, we endeavor to continue creating such opportunities for local employment. TEL and TN are also the first and only coal-fired power plants of the country to be run entirely by Pakistani workforce.

TEL, which achieved commercial operations in October 2022 has already been providing uninterrupted and affordable power to the national grid. With the addition of ThalNova collectively, these two power plants will provide 660 MW of affordable and indigenous electricity.

With the intend to evolve Thar into a prosperous and progressive community, Thar Energy Limited and ThalNova have also been contributing significantly to the regional development with the help of Thar Foundation. Donations by TEL and TN are being utilized to provide locals with access to quality education, health care, means of income, and an improved standard of living.

Moving forward, our goal is to further accelerate the social and economic development of the region by bringing meaningful and considerable improvements in areas where they are most needed.

The efforts of both federal and Sindh government are commendable in turning the Thar dream into a reality along with the facilitation accorded by Power Ministry, Energy Department, NEPRA, PPIB, CPPA, NTDC and others in realizing the Thar Dream.