The Sahiwal Coal Power Plant, the first major power plant under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was inaugurated on July 3 in Sahiwal District of Punjab Province, Pakistan.
Construction on the power plant with two 660-megawatt units began on July 31, 2015, and the project was completed in a record period of 22 months, six months ahead of schedule.
The 1320-megawatt power plant, invested and built by two Chinese companies--HuanengShandong Electricity and Shandong Ruyi Group--is expected to generate 9 billion kWh of electricity per year to meet the electricity demand of 10 million local people.
"The power plant is an early harvest project under the CPEC," said Cao Peixi, an official from China Huaneng Group, stressing that fast construction of this green, highly efficient large power plant has created the "Sahiwal Speed."
Nur Bekri,directorof China'sNational Energy Administration, said, "The power plant sets a good example for the building of the Belt and Road Initiative."
Bekri noted that completion of a series of energy projects along the CEPC in the future will greatly boost Pakistan's economic development and improve local people's livelihoods.
Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister, said the CEPC is a common vision of the two countries and completion of the power plant is the first step towards fulfilling the vision.
It will bring tremendous changes to Pakistan's economic development, Sharif commented.