1. Brief introduction

Zonergy 9 ×100 MW solar power project is located at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur in Punjab, with 4500 acres of land. Zonergy, as the project sponsor, executes the project by IPP model and the investment of Phase I is USD 460 million. This project is listed as CPEC “early harvest” project. China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank are financing the project. The project will be implemented in 3 phases and each phase is consisted of 300 MW. The loan and equity ratio is 80%:20%.

2. Latest progress

During Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan in May 2015, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif jointly performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the project.

The details of Phase I are given as below:

1) The first 100 MW:

The energization of the first 100MW was achieved on March 19, 2016 and Commercial Operations Date (COD) was achieved on May 31, 2016.

2) The second 100 MW:

The energization of the second 100MW was achieved on June 6, 2016 and Commercial Operations Date (COD) was achieved on July 31, 2016.

3) The third 100 MW:

The energization of the third 100MW was achieved on June 8, 2016 and Commercial Operations Date (COD) was achieved on July 31, 2016. The remaining 6×100 MW would be implemented after NEPRA decides the new solar tariff policy.

In order to fulfill the deadlines of meeting COD, M/s Zonergy created history by air lifting the heaviest single consignment, i.e. main transformer weighing 76 tons, regardless of heavy expense. Moreover, Zonergy team overcame extremely unfriendly weather, i.e. hot weather & continuous rain during the construction period.

Zonergy fulfilled its commitment with the Government of Pakistan to energize its first three solar power plants (3×100 MW) before the start of holy month of Ramadan. Zonergy project is the first energy project which achieved energization under CPEC.

3. Corporate social responsibility

Zonergy has created more than 3000 jobs for local people, and provided training sessions & internship to more than 50 students of University of Engineering & Techonology (UET) & Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB).

Zonergy’s 3×100 MW solar power plants have been energized since March, 2016. According to the statistical data, approximately 459 million KWH could be generated in 1 year. Official statistics from GOP show that the annual amount of electricity consumption in the region is 1,481 million KWH for 13 hospitals, 17 police stations, 7 railway stations, 554 secondary schools, 12 colleges, 4 universities, 130 factories (big & small) and 560,000 households in this region. At present, the electricity generated from Zonergy 3×100 MW solar power plants could meet 30% electricity demand of Bahawalpur region. In addition, Zonergy has paid PKR 1033 million of taxes & levies.

(Liu Kai, CEO, Zonergy Company Limited, Zonergy 900MW Solar Project in Punjab)