ISLAMABAD
In a major development, the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) has introduced the condition of a type tested material mandatory in all its tender documents in order to stop Chinese contractors from supplying substandard products in the construction of important power projects.
This information was provided to the sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power here on Wednesday. The committee reviewed the progress of various electricity transmission and distribution projects in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Convener of the committee Senator Nisar Mohammad complained that the Chinese machinery and equipment installed in various power projects was not giving optimal power production and they broke down more frequently than the ones fitted with European ones. He especially mentioned Malakand, Jabban and Nandipur Power Plants.
NTDC officials informed the committee that the condition of the type tested material in the tender documents was introduced to stop the use of substandard material in the power sector projects. They said the move would effectively block the entrance of 70 per cent Chinese equipment in the country.
The Chinese equipment and machinery from now onwards have to be type tested material from KEMA Holland or its allied 40 labs globally.
As Pakistan lacks type tested material labs the new condition would help in the import of quality machinery and equipment. Currently, most of the power generation, transmission and distribution projects in the country are being undertaken by the Chinese contractors.
