The Sukkur Thermal Power Plant is situated on the right bank of the mighty River Indus and at the eastern corner of Sukkur city. Tracing back the chain of circumstances leading to the Sukkur Thermal Power Project, we see that in 1951 the Sindh Government began to consider a central generating station of 15,000 KW in Sukkur to cater to energy needs within a radius of seventy miles. Since funds were not easily arrange able, it was left to the West Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (WPIDC) to grapple with the issue. They would cover the load demand for the tube-wells which were to be sunk in the area to counteract the growing menaces of salinity and water logging, as well as for the lift pumps for the canals which took their birth from the Lloyd Barrage and were unlined. WPIDC proposed the setting up of a 30 MW station, while works relating to transmission and distribution were to be carried out by the West Pakistan Electricity Department. Later, in 1959, with the creation of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the whole project was handed over to this semi-governmental organization for implementation.
     At the time, all the existing power available in the area Was generated by outdated diesel engines. This extremely expensive power was a drain on the foreign exchange resources of the country, because spare parts and fuel were imported, the power supply was not regular as the sets were old and needed major repairs, and the units were small and expansion was limited. Power was therefore urgently needed to meet the growing demands of industry Also, the effects of the White Menace water logging and salinity had increased and huge tracts of land were being lost to the plough. To counteract these harmful effects power was needed to operate tube wells which would bring down the rising water-table. Lift irrigation pumps along the Nara canal needed power to reclaim the land and help the farmers grow more food to meet the needs of a growing population. Thus there was an urgent need for a central power generating station of medium capacity and for transmission and distribution systems.
     The Canadian government was approached for assistance. A feasibility report was submitted in 1960, the Canadians agreed to finance the project under the Colombo Plan, and site works were started at the end of 1961. Initially, two machines each with a 12,500 KW capacity were to be constructed. In 1963, the Canadian Government agreed to finance the installation of two additional and identical machines, bringing the total installed energy capacity to 50 MW. A network of lines was to be spread to carry electric power over an area with a radius of seventy miles around Sukkur. Thus power for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use was to be made available to the people in both urban and rural areas. The first phase of this project was commissioned in March 1965 and the second in April 1967. No expansion has been undertaken since, but the power supply remains adequate.

Grid stations in Sukkur District Megavolt-amperes (MVA)

Village Electrification

 The District Village Electrification Committee, under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner, meets regularly to consider proposals from WAPDA and others for the electrification of villages. Criteria include size of population, proximity to HT lines, and availability of funds. Thus, in one year eleven villages were electrified, ten in another, while another hundred were in various stages of consideration. However, the frequent failures of the electricity supply mean that many people still sleep on the roof to take advantage of any breezes. On the other hand, in the cooler weather the old custom of gathering around a fire still prevails:
     Sometimes we made our camps under natural rock arches or in the mouths of caves. But whether I had my tent pitched or not, it was our custom to gather for a hatchery after dark, sitting round the men's fire and passing the huqqa, recited poems or sang songs.

Note This plant is close now

Contact SEPCO

SEPCO Head Quarters:

Sukkur Electric Power Company Sepco

Head Office Thermal Power Station Old  Sukkur

Tel: 071-9310795/ 071-5621633 Fax: 071-5621633 / 071-9310797

SEPCO Customer Service Center:

Regional Customer Service Center Minara Road Sukkur

Tel: 071-9310921

Fax: 071-9310917

Government Officially Site Website http://sepco.com.pk