ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has invited international bids to rehabilitate Guddu 747 Power Plant’s damaged steam turbine, a project expected to restore an additional 297MW of capacity and reduce generation cost by Rs4.19 per unit.
According to details, international competitive bids have been invited for the rehabilitation of Steam Turbine-16 (ST-16) and allied equipment, with bids due by October 7, 2026.
The rehabilitation is targeted for completion and commissioning in December 2028 and is expected to restore the plant to its designed combined-cycle generation capacity of 747MW.
ST-16 and its associated generator have remained out of service since a fire in July 2022. As a result, Guddu 747 currently operates in open-cycle mode at around 450MW.
The rehabilitation will unlock an additional 297MW of generation capability, representing an increase of approximately 66 percent over the plant’s current output.
The project is also expected to substantially improve the plant’s generation economics. Once restored to full combined-cycle operation, its generation cost is projected to decline from Rs13.87 per unit to Rs9.68 per unit, resulting in a saving of Rs4.19 per unit.
The restoration is expected to improve Guddu 747’s position in the power dispatch merit order from around 11th at present to approximately seventh.
This improved position would allow the system operator to dispatch a larger block of relatively lower-cost electricity and displace more expensive generation from the system.
The Power Division conducted detailed technical assessments and engineering reviews of the damaged turbine and associated equipment before initiating the procurement process.
Following the comprehensive integrity assessments, a focused EPC turnkey procurement package was prepared for the rehabilitation of ST-16 and allied equipment.
The invitation of international competitive bids marks a significant step towards restoring the power plant to its full operational potential and extracting greater value from an existing generation asset.
The project is also strategically important because Guddu is located at a critical point in Pakistan’s transmission network and along the north-south power flow corridor.
Restoring the plant to full capacity is expected to enhance operational flexibility and resilience of the national grid while providing the system operator with greater access to lower-cost electricity.
The Power Division’s initiative is aimed at improving the efficiency and utilisation of existing generation infrastructure rather than relying solely on new generation capacity.
Once rehabilitated, Guddu 747 is expected to provide 747MW of combined-cycle generation, compared with its current output of around 450MW, while significantly improving its generation cost and dispatch position.