CIHC Pak Power Considers Sustainable Energy Options in Gwadar
M/s CIHC Pak Power Company (Pvt.) Limited, the Chinese firm behind the 300MW Gwadar coal-fired power plant, has expressed interest in exploring alternative and sustainable energy solutions for the region. The company’s Chairman, Zhao Bo, wrote to Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, emphasizing the strategic significance of this project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor framework and requesting additional support from the Ministry, according to Business Recorder.
The company highlighted challenges related to inter-agency coordination and requested facilitation from the Ministry concerning a procedural matter. Specifically, it sought an extension of the Financial Closing Date outlined in the existing Letter of Support (LoS) for the coal project. This follows prior guidance from the Private Power and Infrastructure Board, advising the firm to extend the validity of its Performance Guarantee and pay the required Financial Closing Date extension fee.
In compliance, CIHC Pak Power submitted an extended Performance Guarantee valid until 2028 and processed a $150,000 payment as instructed by PPIB. Despite fulfilling all requirements, the formal extension letter amending the Financial Closing Date has not yet been issued, prompting the company to request the Planning Ministry’s assistance in coordinating with PPIB for timely issuance.
The company also referenced discussions from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in September 2025, where alternative power options, including photovoltaic solutions, were proposed should the coal project face commercial viability challenges. A detailed analysis of these alternative solutions was submitted to PPIB in December 2025.
CIHC Pak Power reaffirmed its dedication to meeting Gwadar’s energy requirements while supporting the Ministry and other authorities in assessing sustainable and integrated energy solutions. The initiative reflects a broader effort under CPEC to balance traditional and renewable energy approaches, ensuring the long-term energy security of the Gwadar region.