Muzaffargarh solar power project
{{Short description|Proposed 600 MW solar power plant}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{update|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Muzaffargarh Solar Power Project
| country = Pakistan
| location = Muzaffargarh
| status = Proposed
| construction_began =
| commissioning =
| cost =
| owner =
| operator =
| solar_type = PV
| solar_collectors_area = 2,400 acres
| solar_collectors_installed =
| solar_collectors_manufacturer =
| solar_module =
| solar_tracker =
| solar_heliostats =
| solar_thermal_collector =
| solar_thermal_storage =
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_units_planned = 1
| ps_units_operational =
| ps_units_decommissioned =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 600MW
}}
The Muzaffargarh Solar Power Project is a proposed 600 MW solar power plant to be installed in Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. The project is part of the government's initiative to generate low-cost and environment-friendly electricity.
The project was launched as a component of the government's strategy to generate 10,000 MW of solar power nationwide. The primary objective was to lower electricity costs by phasing out load-based power plants that operate on imported fuel during daylight hours. The initial pilot project of 600 MW was set in motion in Muzaffargarh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1077169-setback-as-no-bids-received-for-600mw-solar-power-project|title=Setback as no bids received for 600MW solar power project|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}
Land acquisition
2400 acres of land was to be acquired for the Muzaffargarh project at an estimated cost of Rs 2000 crore. 1.4 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Nov-2022/ntdc-to-install-2-400mw-solar-power-plants-in-punjab|title=NTDC to install 2,400MW solar power plants in Punjab|date=November 7, 2022|website=The Nation}}{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2022/10/21/govt-to-purchase-land-to-install-2400mw-solar-energy-project-in-punjab/|title=Govt to Purchase Land to Install 2,400MW Solar Energy Project in Punjab}} However, due to financial constraints, the Planning Commission refused to fund the land acquisition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40236867|title=Muzaffargarh solar plant land: Power Div asked to raise Rs930m from its own unutilised funds|date=April 13, 2023|website=Brecorder}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40239583|title=Muzaffargarh power plant: President approves Rs930m CDL|first=Mushtaq|last=Ghumman|date=April 30, 2023|website=Brecorder}}
Bidding
The project's bidding process faced a poor response from potential investors.{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailImage.php|title=Jun 19, 2023 | 13 energy projects cleared amid poor bidding response|date=June 19, 2023|website=Dawn Epaper}} Despite offering an appealing power tariff of 3.4 cents per unit, no bids were submitted for the project. This presented a setback, as the government did not receive any bids for the initial pilot project. Due to the poor response in the bidding process, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) intended to review the approved tariff for the project.{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2023/06/18/nepra-to-reassess-tariff-for-600-mw-muzaffargarh-solar-power-plant/|title=NEPRA to Reassess Tariff for 600 MW Muzaffargarh Solar Power Plant}}
References
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Category:Solar power stations in Pakistan