The world’s largest ship-based power plant will begin supplying Pakistan with electricity next month to try to mitigate the country’s crippling shortages. The new supply still won’t come close to ending the energy crisis that plagues Pakistan. The ship, which burns furnace oil, will generate about 230 megawatts for the national power grid, said Asad Mahmood, a spokesman for the vessel’s Turkish owner Karkey Karadeniz Electrik. The owner has a five-year contract to sell power to the deeply indebted Pakistani national power company. Now anchored off the southern port city of Karachi, the Kaya Bey will begin feeding into the national grid within four weeks. Still, the ship’s contribution will only make a dent in the overall power crisis. Pakistan’s energy demands outstrip supply by an estimated 5,000 MW, thanks to lack of investment, soaring usage and a crumbling electricity generation infrastructure that heavily relies on hydroelectric power. Power outages last up to 16 hours per day in some areas and damage industrial growth. The suffering is the worst in summer, when temperatures soar but power cuts mean fans and air conditioners won’t work.
FLOATING PLANT TO SUPPLY POWER TO PAKISTAN
The world’s largest ship-based power plant will begin supplying Pakistan with electricity next month to try to mitigate the country’s crippling shortages. The new supply still won’t come close to ending the energy crisis that plagues Pakistan.
