A key step toward resolving Gwadar’s longstanding water scarcity issues was taken on May 1 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply electricity to the 1.2 million gallons per day (MGD) desalination plant.
The agreement, finalized at Naval Headquarters, brings together the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA), Pakistan Navy, China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), and Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO). Under the MoU, QESCO will provide 1.5 megawatts of power to the facility through the Navy’s independent feeder.
Speaking to Gwadar Pro, a GPA official confirmed that the plant’s construction—funded through a Rs 2 billion Chinese grant—has been completed in partnership with the GPA, National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), and China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC). The civil, mechanical, and electrical systems are now fully operational, with the plant’s central control room up and running.
All necessary equipment has been installed to ensure the plant functions at full capacity, the official added. Additionally, a one-kilometer water pipeline has been laid to connect the plant with Gwadar city’s main water distribution network.
Spanning roughly one acre, the desalination facility will serve as a critical new source of clean water for both Gwadar city and Gwadar Port. It complements the region’s existing supply from local reservoirs and marks a significant contribution by China to the well-being of the city’s residents.
Originally proposed as a 0.5 MGD plant following a joint feasibility study by the Pakistani and Chinese governments, the project was upgraded to a 1.2 MGD capacity based on revised water demand forecasts. The larger plan received formal approval on July 5, 2021.