Fauji Electric Power Company (Fepco) has called for bids to construct a 330-350-MW thermal power plant in Baluchistan. Contractors are invited to submit offers for the turnkey contract between 16-20 November.

Construction work began on the private power scheme in early 1995, but the original contractor pulled out, market reports say. This has put back the plant commissioning to 1998, from an original target date of November 1997. However, Fepco still expects to meet the timetable agreed with the state-owned Karachi Electric Supply Corporation under which it will supply electricity at $0.065 a kWh.

The contract includes design, construction and commissioning of the plant, which will be built near the coast at Khalifa point, in Lasbela district. Contractors are expected to arrange export and supplier credits, and are also encouraged to offer equity participation.