PR85223

SHANGHAI, Aug. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

The first charter plane arranged by Shanghai Electric and Air China took off

from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport on August 4, taking the first

batch of construction team consisting of hundreds of Shanghai Electric's

workers, engineers and managers to Pakistan as part of the support to speed up

the progress of Thar Block-1 Integrated Coal Mine Power project, a major energy

project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200821/2893107-1 

Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200424/2786026-1-LOGO 

The construction progress of the project has been interrupted by the

pandemic-induced travel restrictions which have made it difficult for the

workers to enter the country, causing a substantial shortage of the on-site

workforce and slowing down the overall progress. The construction projects in

Dubai and Panèevo are also facing the same challenge.

With the assistance and guidance of the Shanghai municipal government, Shanghai

Electric coordinated with Air China to arrange multiple charter planes for

thousands of technical and managerial staff to accelerate the progress of the

three major projects. All flights are operated with the highest health and

safety measures throughout the journey to guarantee the safety of all

construction personnel. The first batch of over 4 tons supplies including

personal protective equipment, daily necessities, office essentials and

emergency drugs were also shipped to the destinations.

The team was received by the company's officials at Jinnah International

Airport on August 4 and will replace the local Chinese engineers and managers

whose return were delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. All

construction personnel will follow the quarantine measures in accordance with

the local regulations upon arrival. The construction procedures are required to

operate in line with the anti-pandemic guidelines, and the infection prevention

measures have been put in place by Shanghai Electric to create a bio-secure

working environment, protecting the safety and health of all on-site workers.

Located in Thar Desert in the southeastern part of Pakistan's Sindh Province,

Thar Block-1 Integrated Coal Mine Power Project covers an area of over 9,000

square kilometers with the coal mine expected to achieve an annual production

capacity of 7.8 million tons and two 660-megawatt coal-fired power plants

capable of providing affordable and reliable electricity for 4 million

Pakistani households.

"As a priority project of both the 'Belt and Road' initiative and CPEC, the

completion of Thar Block-1 Integrated Coal Mine Power Project will go a long

way in advancing Pakistan's energy development. However, the COVID-19 has posed

an unprecedented difficulty to the construction operations," said Mr. Song

Zaile, Executive Director of Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company (PVT)

Ltd (SPV of Shanghai Electric in Pakistan).

"To address the challenges, we have been working on many fronts to keep the

disruption caused by this global health crisis at a minimum while adopting the

upgraded anti-pandemic measures to prevent on-site virus transmission," he added.

SOURCE: Shanghai Electric

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=369746 

   Caption: Holding a banner bearing “Shanghai Electric joins hand with Pakistan to tide

over this difficulty, Air China supports Thar Integrated Coal-Mine power

project”, Shanghai Electric team gathered at the airport terminal to say their

goodbyes before the deployment journey to Karachi.