China Three Gorges launches 50MW wind farm in Pakistan

PAKISTAN: Chinese hydropower developer China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) has begun construction work on a 49.5MW wind farm in Pakistan.

A Goldwind 1.5MW turbine
The wind farm, based in Jhimpir Thatta, Sindh, will cost $130 million to build.

Goldwind will supply 33 GW77-1500 direct-drive permanent-magnet turbines made for areas with a temperature range of -20 to 45 degrees Celsius and with a sealed, dust-proof design. Goldwind is also offering a two-year operations and maintenance service.

The project will be completed and connected to the grid in the second quarter of 2013, said Wang Shenliang, CEO of Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan. CTG is planning to expand the wind farm to 500MW by 2015 in two further stages.

The project is of great significance in solving the country's power shortage, said Pakistan's federal minister for water and power Syed Naveed Qamar.