Gwadar Updates

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Pakistani officials of New Gwadar Airport under professional training in China

Gwadar Pro
Jul 12, 2024

GWADAR,- As skilled manpower is a key prerequisite for the operation of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), 20 Pakistani officials of NGIA have embarked on their “Multi-disciplinary Training Courses” in China. Under the Training Program, China Airport Construction Group will transfer technical and hands-on knowledge to Pakistani staff to run airport operation independently.

This is the first-of-its-kind human resource training courses aiming to hone the technical, administrative and managerial expertise of the staff of NGIA.

NGIA consists of 32 components such as a state-of-the-art runway, aprons, a terminal, along with civil, technical, electrical and communication infrastructure and allied facilities. The Pakistani staff of the airport is receiving professional training courses from Chinese officials who installed and activated the entire airport system.

An official of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority told Gwadar Pro that the Government of Pakistan did not bear any cost for the training as all the expenses incurred have been executed under China Aid.

He said that most of the officials from the Civil Aviation Authority in the section of operation, management, security, engineering & mechanical work have been joining the courses in groups.

The first phase of NGIA spreads across an area of 4,300 acres and will welcome the entire load of national and international passengers. In the second phase, it will be equipped to handle cargo. After completion, it will be the biggest airport in Pakistan.

 

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Testing and commissioning of New Gwadar International Airport complete​

Gwadar Pro
Jul 21, 2024

GWADAR - The testing and commissioning of the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) have been completed with precision on July 19.

This phase marks the culmination of a detailed three-month process, begun on April 15, that optimized the airport's compliance with design requirements, operational efficiency, and minimized future operational risks while adhering to maintenance standards and legislative regulations.

The comprehensive testing and commissioning involved the airport's entire infrastructure, including the runway, taxiway, apron, electrical systems, telecommunications networks, security features, water supply system, and grid station.

A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan official explained to Gwadar Pro, "Testing and commissioning encompass a series of engineering techniques and procedures designed to check, inspect, and test every operational component of a project, from individual functions to complex systems. The main objective is to ensure that all elements, including construction, processing, and installation, function according to capacity, usage, and requirements."

Last July, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif inaugurated the airbase infrastructure of the China-funded NGIA, which includes 32 components such as civil, technical, electrical, and communication facilities, alongside modern allied services.

The next phase will see the construction of a cargo complex designed to handle diverse cargo types. Upon completion, NGIA will be the largest airport in Pakistan and the nation's second to operate under an open sky policy. It is slated to accommodate both narrow-body aircraft such as the ATR 72 and Boeing B-737 and wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747, facilitating both domestic and international flights. The airport's development is guided by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Costing Rs. 60.208 billion, NGIA is a flagship project of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The airport, surrounded by a security fence, spans over 4,300 acres and is located 26km northeast of the existing Gwadar City airport on the southwestern Arabian Sea coast of the Balochistan region.

 

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New Gwadar International Airport expected to become operational on August 14​

Airport is pivotal project under CPEC and represents a significant milestone in collaboration between China, Pakistan

News Desk
August 04, 2024

ISLAMBAD: The New Gwadar International Airport is expected to become operational on August 14, with all preparations nearly complete.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to oversee the soft launch of this significant project.

A special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight from Karachi is scheduled to be the first to land at the New Gwadar International Airport, marking a historic moment for the region.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs54.98 billion, the airport features runways built to international standards, capable of accommodating large aircraft such as the Airbus A380.

The Gwadar International Airport is a key project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and represents a significant milestone in the collaboration between China and Pakistan. According to sources, the Civil Aviation Authority has constructed the airport in partnership with Chinese experts.

Currently, only four per cent of the operational section remains incomplete. Other development projects related to the airport are expected to be finished by December 2025.

The New Gwadar International Airport is set to boost the region’s connectivity and economic development, acting as a vital infrastructure project for Pakistan’s growing aviation industry.

 

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Early warning meteorological system operational at Gwadar Port​

Gwadar Pro
Aug 7, 2024

GWADAR - Gwadar Environment Department (GED) operationalized an early warning meteorological system at Gwadar Port in collaboration with China Meteorological Administration (CMA) on August 4th to help analyse and identify potential weather- and climate-related risks and hazards in Gwadar.

“It aims at enabling early actions to save and protect lives, livelihoods and assets of people at risk,” GED official told Gwadar Pro. “In 2022, Balochistan and Gwadar suffered severe flooding, resulting in significant damage to lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods of the affected population. The estimated damage to Balochistan Province amounted to $1.625 billion,” he said.

With the early warning system, Gwadar is better positioned to deal with frequent, extreme, and unpredictable climate-related hazards.

The early warning system is made up of four elements: disaster risk knowledge, detection, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting, warning dissemination and communication, and preparedness and response capabilities. In April, China Meteorological Administration (CMA) handed over equipment to Pakistan, which included a mobile vertical observation system, a Beidou Navigation sounding station and three automatic weather stations (AWS) including two backups and a large screen.

Last year, meteorological officers and experts from China and Pakistan held talks in Beijing on deepening cooperation in meteorological science and technology. Both sides reviewed the cooperation in the field of meteorological science and technology, and consulted on such topics as the early warning supporting system, operational capacity building, and training.

 

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Gwadar North Free Zone energized with 10 MW power supply​

Gwadar Pro
Aug 15, 2024

GWADAR - In a major development, Gwadar North Free Zone has been energized with 10 MW electricity after connecting the national grid system on August 15. In the second phase 5 MW power supply will be provided to Gwadar North Free Zone and Gwadar Port.

Gwadar Port Authority as the executing agency completed the entire work in one year. Quetta Electric Power Supply Company (QEPSC) and China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC) conducted the feasibility studies. Sigma, a Karachi based company constructed the distribution network in the Gwadar North Free Zone.

Almost 300 meters long underground power cables have been laid down from Deep Sea Port grid station with a sub-station recently constructed at the entrance of North Free Zone. The sub-station has the control panels, HT room and cabinets to manage supply of electricity to the factories in the zone.

From the sub-station a 5 km long 132 KV distribution line carrying two feeders of 5 MW each were laid. On reaching the factories’ premises inside North Free Zone where companies including Han Geng and Agven are operating, step-down transformers have been installed for continual electricity supply as per their demands.

Now Gwadar North Free Zone has been linked to Gwadar Port’s sole grid station with three sources. “One source is national grid station of Quetta. The second source is Gabd-Remdan of Iran border. The third source is Nag-Besima section of another Iran Border.”

The Deep-Sea Port’s sole Grid Station was established in 2019 exclusively for Gwadar Port and Free Zone through three feeders. Since inadequate power was available at the disposal of the QEPSC, the grid station had to rely on diesel generators for production of thermal power using expensive fossil fuel at high cost in the past.

After Gwadar North Free Zone is energized, 8.5 MW Diesel Generator has been switched off, saving millions of rupees. COPHC official said that as matter of fact electricity which was being produced through 8.5 MW diesel generator cost around Rs90 per unit. However, after availability of 10 MW power in Gwadar North Free Zone, electricity cost will be around Rs.55 per unit.

“It means investors and factory owners will enjoy the saving of around Rs35 per unit. This will directly impact financial leverage and production growth not only for current enterprises but also for potential investors,” COPHC official said.

 

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https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=303263542844866

 

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Government decides to bring 50% of government cargo from Gwadar port.
50% of the imports for the public sector for the development of Gwadar Port will be imported to Gwadar Port. This will provide employment to the people of Gwadar.

 

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China seeks RMB pilot project at Gwadar Free Zone​

Mushtaq Ghumman
September 5, 2024

ISLAMABAD: China has asked Pakistan to establish RMB internationalization pilot project in Gwadar Free Zone to promote trade settlement and reduce foreign exchange conversion costs and risks between the two sides, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

This proposal was floated during the 7th meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) on Gwadar under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) amid serious concerns on security situation in Gwadar, the sources added.

Both sides appreciated the efforts made by the Government of Pakistan in routing public sector bulk cargo through Gwadar Port which has been very helpful in operationalisation Gwadar Port; and has greatly promoted the development of local logistics industry while creating a large number of jobs. The Pakistani side will continue to promote the development of this business in Gwadar Port.

 

[ghazi52]

According to sources both sides believe that Afghanistan’s transit trade business is the main growth point of the bulk cargo throughput of Gwadar Port. Both sides agreed to strive to build Gwadar Port into an important port for transit trade of landlocked countries in Central Asia through Pakistan.

Both sides believe that the ocean fishing transshipment business at the Gwadar Port is beneficial to significantly reduce the transportation costs of ocean fishing.

Therefore, both sides should enhance the attractiveness of the Port as an ocean fishing transshipment port, and significantly expand its throughput, through more policy support for this business from the Pakistani side.

 

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Chinese side emphasized the great importance of freshwater and electricity supply for project operation of Gwadar port, and suggested the Pakistani side promote the connection of power grids to Gwadar Port and South Free Zone as soon as possible, with relevant supporting projects in place.

 

[ghazi52]

New Gwadar International Airport:

It was stated that currently, construction of the New Gwadar International Airport Project (NGIA) has entered the final stretch, with the completion ratio reaching passing 90%.

Targeting on the revised completion time in August, 2024, the Chinese side is actively coordinating workers, material, and machinery for implementing of the remaining work including mechanical and electrical installation and commissioning, interior decoration, outdoor engineering etc., with a view to realizing the smooth completion and hand-over of the NGIA Project on time.

 

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The Central Substation of NGIA was successfully and completely energized from the 132kV/11KV grid station on 8th 4th April 2024, and the Chinese side appreciates all the efforts taken by the Pakistani side in this regard. Mechanical and electrical installation and commissioning is the top priority of the Project at this stage, and uninterrupted and stable power supply 24-7 is the precondition for the smooth commissioning of all systems.

Thus the Pakistani side is requested to make every effort to guarantee the power supply of the 132kV/11KV grid station, in order to avoid any influence imposed on commissioning or equipment damage due to unstable power supply.

 

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Dredging of Berthing Areas & Channels:

The Chinese side stated that the sixth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Gwadar approved the launch of the feasibility study work on the project.

The Pakistani side noted that the joint feasibility study of Capital Dredging of Berthing Areas & Channel for additional terminal was carried out in June 2023, to facilitate port expansion plan and to accommodate large vessels. The Pakistani side further stated that the preparation of PC-1 of the project is underway.