1. Brief introduction
PowerChina is China’s state owned mega-scale power construction group that ranked 200th in the ‘Fortune Global 500’ in 2016. PowerChina is present in more than 70 countries, and its businesses include survey, design, consulting, construction, operations and investment in thermal power, hydropower, wind, solar and infrastructure construction.
HydroChina is a subsidiary of PowerChina, committed to promoting the development of clean energy. HydroChina is world-renowned in the field of renewable energy.
HydroChina Dawood Power (Private) Limited (HDPPL), formerly Dawood Power (Private) Limited, was established in Pakistan in December 2004 for development of wind power projects. In May 2012, HydroChina acquired majority shares of the Dawood Power (Private) Limited, making it a joint venture between China and Pakistan.
Dawood wind power project is a prioritized or early harvest project under China-Pakistan Economical Corridor (CPEC). It installs 33 wind turbine generators with the capacity of 1.5MW per unit and total capacity is 49.5MW on 1,720 acres of land in the coastal area of Gharo wind corridor in Bhanbore, District Thatta, Sindh.
2. Latest progress
Energy Purchase Agreement (EPA) with National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and the Site Sub-lease Deed was signed in September 2014. Subsequently, the Implementation Agreement (IA) with AEDB was signed on 12 November 2014. This is a direct investment (FDI) project. The total investment of Dawood wind power project is USD 115 million. The rate of equity to loan is 30%:70%. On 11 March 2015, HydroChina and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) signed the loan agreement.
On 22 April 2015, during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff witnessed the ground breaking ceremony of Dawood wind power project via a video display.
Dawood wind power project achieved Commercial Operation Date (COD) on April 4, 2017. This is the first energy project and the third project completed under CPEC. The annual electric power supply to the National Grid will be more than 130GWh, which is sufficient for daily use of 100,000 Pakistan families and will effectively ease the crisis of electricity shortage in Pakistan.
3. Corporate social responsibility
1）Created more than 200 job opportunities for locals
Dawood wind power project has created over 200 direct jobs for the local people during the construction period. Majority of jobs have been provided to locals. All the security guards are locals. Presently 61 locals are doing security guard duties at our project site. Local people are also hired as generator operators, sweepers, kitchen assistants etc. for day to day work.
2) Re-opened, renovated & made operational a government primary school
Government primary school Karam Ali Goth had been closed for the last ten years, which was re-opened by the efforts of HDPPL management in July 2016. At present 35 students have been enrolled and attending classes regularly. The school building was repaired and renovated. After the renovation of government primary school, HDPPL has a plan to provide desks, chairs etc. to the school so the children can get better education in proper environment.
3) Free medical camp
A free medical camp was arranged in July 2015 for the local populace. 300 patients got checkup. Female doctors were also arranged for females checkup. 15 patients were diagnosed as hepatitis patients. Their routine treatment was also undertaken. All patients were provided free medicines. In order to provide purified drinking water, a small water filtration plant will be installed in the village.
As basic health facility is not available in the area, HDPPL along with other three wind farm developers of Gharo area is planning to arrange mobile dispensary facility for the community. In this connection, an NGO “Shine Humanity” which has been already running a dispensary in Gharo City agreed to provide doctors, para-medical staff and medicines free of cost. Therefore, the wind developers have to arrange only mobile van and its running cost. This mobile dispensary will provide basic health facilities to the people of Gharo area.
(Yang Jianduo, Chief Representative of PowerChina in Pakistan)