Name: Fiaz Chaudhry, Managing Director,National Transmission And Despatch Company Limited (NTDC), Pakistan

Title: Energy Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract:

In Pakistan, NTDC owns and operates a large transmission network and controls generation dispatch in most part of the country. That is why it is known as backbone of Pakistan’s power sector. We have over 50 bulk supply substations with over 19,000 MVA and 25,000 MVA transformation capacities at fourteen 500/220 kV and thirty- eight 220/132 kV substations, respectively. The transmission network is spread throughout the country, with over 5,200 km of 500 kV and about 9,800 km of 220 kV transmission lines.

According to a 2014 research study by Pew Research Centre, Pakistanis have the most favorable view of China after China itself. Both countries have engaged in trade and military cooperation for a long time. The bilateral friendly cooperation has turned into strategic partnership after the signing of a $46 billion agreement of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The corridor is described as the game changer for both countries. The construction is progressing well and covers all areas including energy, finance, information and communication.

The Belt and Road Initiative would revive the Silk Road and is likely to bridge the social, economic and cultural gaps within regions in an open and inclusive manner.

The stage has now been set for an unprecedented economic integration between China and Pakistan in the days to come, which would help fight poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and mal-nutrition.

The initiative will also provide superior health facilities, offer better standards of life and many economic opportunities to the people. The significance of CPEC is a flash point project of the Belt and Road Initiative as it will combine China’s financial and industrial capacity and technological prowess with Pakistan’s plentiful resources, hard working labour workforce and potential market.

Pakistan is developing a number of ongoing projects of generating plants, transmission lines, substations and converter stations under CPEC in Pakistan:

• Five coal-fired power plants with about 5,000 MW capacity

• 1000 MW solar park

• Over 700 km 500 kV double circuit lines

• Over 500 km 220 kV double circuit lines

• Over 200 km 132 kV double circuit lines

Two ± 660 kV HVDC transmission lines (from Matiari to Lahore and Port Qasim to Faisalabad) were considered under CPEC. Correspondingly, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between NTDC and State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC/CET). These HVDC projects will be executed in two phases under the government of Pakistan Transmission Policy-2015 on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. Initially, 4,000 MW HVDC 878 km-long Matiari-Lahore project will be performed in phase 1.

The government of Pakistan attaches top priority and importance to CPEC projects and a viable monitoring mechanism has been put up in place for their timely completion. I am confident that CPEC projects will serve as the strongest pillar of economic, commercial and cultural connectivity between the two countries and herald a new era of regional development and prosperity, benefitting millions of people in the process.

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