World's largest power ship arrives in Karachi

The world’s largest power-generating ship reached Karachi from Turkey on Thursday.

The Turkish-made power ship, Kaya Bey, is docked in the open sea between the Korangi Thermal Power Station and Jamot jetty.

The Turkish company (Karkey) that owns the ship guaranteed 93 per cent efficiency to provide the 231.8 MW based on diesel-run sets for 60 months.

Work on laying the high tension lines and an underground cable between the thermal plant and the Qayyumabad grid for the new supply has been completed and the network is being tested.

The ship came as part of an agreement signed a year ago between Pakistan and a private Turkish company. The Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), Siemens and the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) have been preparing for its arrival.

As reported in The Express Tribune earlier, the ship will provide electricity to the Lakhra Power Generation Company Limited, a Pepco subsidiary, through KESC. Karkey has erected a tower to connect the power ship to the Karachi grid. It has also produced and delivered related interconnection protection panels to Lakhra Power after completing dredging and interconnection facilities.

The ship has the necessary fuel storage facilities on board or on storage vessels berthed near it. The company entered a rental services contract in December 2008 after winning the international bid and has completed necessary groundwork for operation of the ship.

The company entered a rental services contract in December 2008 after winning the international bid and will help to address the woes of domestic and industrial consumers of electricity in the city. These rental power plants will supply power to the national electricity grid in an attempt to stem the power crisis in the country.

The inauguration of the supply is expected after an on-board ceremony to welcome dignitaries on the 21st of this November.