WAPDA organised a day-long Road Show in Bangkok for the 300 MW-Floating Solar Project. The project, said Wapda spokesperson, is the first of its kind in Pakistan.

The Road Show aimed at forging an enhanced competition amongst the prospective bidders for the project.

As many as 58 delegates, hailing from 50 international firms of repute, participated in the event. Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd), Pakistan’s Charge d’ Affairs in Thailand Yasir Hussain, World Bank’s representatives, WAPDA high-ups and the project’s Consultants also attended the event.

The Chairman said that the WAPDA floating solar project has excellent business opportunities for contracting firms through transparent international competitive bidding. WAPDA has a strong asset base worth billions of dollars, he said. Wapda also enjoyed decades-long professional expertise in implementing mega projects in water and power sectors, he added.

The Chairman expressed the hope that contracting firms from across the world would bid for the project in large numbers.

Later, WAPDA Member Finance, Member Power, GM (Coordination and Monitoring) and the Consultants briefed the participants about WAPDA.

Prior to holding the Road Show in Bangkok, WAPDA has also organised a Pre-Bid Conference in Pakistan in November.

Solar Project:

WAPDA’s 300 MW-Floating Solar Project aims at generating clean energy from Tarbela-Ghazi Barotha Complex. Under the project, WAPDA will deploy two 150 MW floating solar plants – one on Ghazi Head Pond at Tarbela Complex and the other on North Pond at Ghazi-Barotha Complex. The floating solar plants will be connected with the Switch Yards of Tarbela and Ghazi- Barotha Hydel Power Stations to provide 484 million units of low-cost electricity to the National Grid every year. The World Bank has shown interest to provide 95 per cent financing for the project.
WAPDA has already floated bidding documents in October 2023 as per the World Bank’s procurement guidelines. The bidding submission deadline is March 12, 2024.