By Abdul Ghani

Chinese and local Pakistani firms are set to deliver key grid equipment for the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) under an Asian Development Bank-funded transmission enhancement programme by October 2026, according to an official procurement status document available with Wealth Pakistan.

The procurement falls under ADB Loan No. 4271-PAK, titled Second Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Program – Tranche 4. The loan agreement became effective on February 24, 2023.

The document shows that tender ADB-401E-03R-2025 covers procurement of 500kV, 220kV and 132kV substation equipment for NTDC substations. The equipment includes tension and suspension string assemblies, associated hardware, connectors, aluminium tubes, control cables, and pad-mounted transformers.

According to the document, Chinese firm M/s Hubei Xinghe Electric New Material Co. Ltd. has been secured two major contracts involving the supply of 500kV, 220kV and 132kV tension and suspension string assemblies and associated hardware for €2.549 million, alongside connectors and aluminium tubes for CNY20.261 million.

Both contracts commenced on December 31, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 7, 2026. Full delivery or shipments are expected to begin by August 2026.

The document further shows that local cable manufacturers have also secured major packages under the procurement. M/s Newage Cables (Pvt.) Ltd., Lahore has been awarded a control cable package for Sheikhupura, Faisalabad West, Sheikh Muhammadi, Peshawar and Jamrud. The value of this package is listed as Rs240.366 million plus $1.566 million.

The first batch of the package has been delivered, while the factory acceptance test for the second batch has been completed, and the material is ready for local delivery.

Two other control cable packages have been awarded to M/s Pakistan Cables, Lahore. One package covering Multan, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur is valued at Rs248.444 million plus $1.619 million. Another package covering Guddu, Dadu, and Daharki is valued at Rs209.902 million plus $1.368 million.

Both contracts commenced on April 3, 2026, with completion scheduled for October 3, 2026. The factory acceptance tests (FATs) are under process for one package, while material is under production for the other.

A separate package for 11.5/0.415kV, 200kVA pad-mounted transformers has been awarded to M/s Transfopower Industries Pvt. Ltd., Lahore at a cost of Rs6.9 million. The contract date is listed as December 2, 2025, and the scheduled completion date is July 30, 2026. The status column states that the material has been delivered.

The visible entries in the document show contracts worth at least Rs705.612 million, $4.553 million, €2.549 million, and CNY20.261 million.

The timely delivery of this equipment is important for strengthening the NTDC’s high-voltage transmission system, particularly at the 500kV, 220kV and 132kV levels. These voltage levels form the backbone of Pakistan’s power evacuation and distribution network, and delays in substation equipment can affect grid reliability and project timelines.

The procurement status shows mixed but continuing progress. Some material has already been delivered, some is ready for local delivery, while other packages are still in the production, testing, or shipment stages.

The delivery schedule indicates that most of the equipment under the reviewed tender is expected to reach completion between July and October 2026, making the next few months critical for the implementation of the ADB-backed transmission enhancement programme.

Credit: INP-WealthPk