[🇵🇰] Gwadar News & Updates

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Source : https://www.gwadarpro.pk/1755148169514577921/north-free-zone-agven-fertilizer-company-begins-test-operation

North Free Zone: Agven fertilizer company begins test operation​

By Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Feb 7, 2024

Gwadar, Feb.7, (Gwadar Pro)- A significant turning point unfolds in 2024 as Agven Fertilizer Company initiates its test operations on a 10-acre plot of land in Gwadar North Free Zone, also known as Gwadar Free Zone Phase II, in the first week of February.

Agven Private Limited stands as the first investor to establish an industry in Gwadar North Free Zone, marking a groundbreaking endeavor in terms of both scale and product manufacturing. "The production facility boasts an initial annual capacity of 20,000 tons of sulphuric acid. Initially, the company had plans to establish a sulphate of Potash and sulphuric acid plant,"

However, he mentioned that the chemical facility will be set up at a later stage. Currently, Hydrocholic acid (HCL) is produced as a by-product, with sulphate of Potash as the primary product. "Calcium carbonate, vanadium oxide, water, and LPG are utilized as raw materials.

Sulphur will laterally be employed in the production of sulphuric acid. Agven has successfully initiated test production of the required fertilizer from the factory. Commercial operations will commence later this month, with products destined for export abroad and the tariff area," he elaborated.

The Agven factory has commenced all functions under temporary arrangements such as the availability of electricity, water, and other necessities provided by China Overseas Port Holding Company. Once the ongoing work on allied facilities like power transmission lines, fiber optic cables, road networks, sewerage, and drainage is completed, Agven will commence regular operations.

"The construction of the factory began last year and was completed within a remarkable timeframe. Aside from offering hundreds of job opportunities, Agven will provide ample business opportunities to locals in terms of daily life commodities and the supply of raw materials," remarked Project Coordinator Mr. Arslan to Gwadar Pro.

Upon commencement of operations, he added, it can pave the way for several other investors to invest in Gwadar Free Zone. Regarding inquiries, he stated that Sulphur and sulphuric acid will be imported from Iran and other Central Asian countries as raw materials for fertilizer manufacturing.

"With local manufacturing and seeking exemptions from customs duties, the cost of fertilizer production in the zone would be lower and market competitive. Subsequently, it can help increase Pakistan’s exports," he concluded.

 

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New Gwadar International Airport expected to become operational in year 2024.

 

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Runway...............

 

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Apron and Terminal Building .........

 

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New Gwadar International Airport : Telecommunication work completes, navigational works in progress.​

By Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Feb 22, 2024

GWADAR, Feb. 22 (Gwadar Pro)- In a significant development, high-tech telecommunication work has completed in connection with ongoing gradual development of New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA).

NGIA’s state of art telecommunication paraphernalia involves telecom networks and systems that use various technologies and protocols to facilitate the transmission of voice, data, and audio-video signals between devices, including smartphones, computers, and other communication devices.

Talking to Gwadar Pro GPA official said that NGIA’s telecommunication work deals with telecom networks which are made up of various components, including transmission systems, switching systems, and network management systems. These components work together to ensure that communication signals are transmitted and delivered efficiently and securely, he added.

Meanwhile Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said that that next step is to install and apply “modern navigational system” at New Gwadar International Airport. “Navigational system constitutes mechanism of interplay of radio- electric and visual aids.

Visual aids will encompass signaling devices, guidance signs besides signs painted over the pavement (runway, taxiways, aprons) and lights (runway, taxiway),” he added.
“Guidance signs at NGIA will provide moving directions and information to aircraft to be operating in the airport, but also to airport vehicles.

Navigational system also deals with Location signs (yellow colored on black background) that identifies the runway or taxiway in which the aircraft is about to enter,” he elucidated.

When asked, he said that fiber optic cables have already been laid from Gwadar port and Passni to NGIA. New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), an iconic project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), cost Rs. 60.208 billion.

With the joint effort of professional teams of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan, fencing around the New Gwadar International Airport has already been completed. New Gwadar International Airport spreading over across an area of 4,300 acres will welcome entire load of national and international passengers.

Last year in July, Prime Minister inaugurated airbase infrastructure of China-funded New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA). Collaborated by China Airport Construction Group Co Ltd and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Pakistan, NGIA consists of 32 components like state of art runway, aprons, a terminal, along with civil, technical, electrical and communication infrastructure and rest of modern allied facilities.

In second phase, cargo complex will be built and it will come up with new capacity to handle multiple cargo stuff. NGIA will have the capacity to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as ATR 72 and Boeing B-737, as well as wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A-380 and Boeing B-747 for domestic and international routes.

 

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Gwadar Port dredging project completes​

By Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Mar 10, 2024

GWADAR, - Gwadar Port Maintenance Dredging Navigation Channel project was completed, ensuring a depth of 14 meters at the navigational channel of Gwadar Port.

Now it is enough to accommodate large ships of more than 50,000 tons and this will further enhance the throughput capacity of Gwadar Port.

In this regard a Completion Ceremony for Maintenance Dredging Navigation Channel project was held at Gwadar Port on 8th March.

The project was officially started on April 7, 2023. “The desilting process came into action to restore the original depth of navigational channel at Gwadar Port offering heavyweight ships to float well.

It will ensure seamless movement of all types of vessels and will facilitate them to dock at ease without any hiccup,” GPA Desilting Project Director Dawood Baloch told Gwadar Pro.

“As per plan, we reclaimed 14 meters of natural and original operational depth at Gwadar Port at a cost of Rs 4.7 billion,” another GPA official said. He expressed satisfaction on the pace of operation.

China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) official said that undoubtedly, no de-silting activity was taken place in the last 7 years. Last Gwadar Port desilting operation was executed in 2015.

 

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[H3]Gwadar natural disaster: Gwadar Port gets equipment of early warning system[/H3]
By Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Apr 5, 2024

GWADAR - In the wake of China's unflinching commitment to help Pakistan mitigate detrimental impacts of natural disasters like catastrophic flood, torrential rain as well as metrological hazards, Gwadar Port has received equipment of early warning system on April 3.

After equipment's installation and functioning at Gwadar Port, next beneficiary areas are Jiwani and Turbat in Balochistan.

China Metrological Administration (CMA) has doled out the equipment to Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD). The equipment includes the establishment of one mobile vertical observation system, one Beidou Navigation sounding station and three automatic weather stations (AWS) including two backup Aws and large screen.

Talking to Gwadar Pro PMD official said that CMA-PMD collaboration is a part of boosting CPEC capacity for emergency management of major metrological disasters under the Belt and Road Initiative.

He revealed that CMA is also assisting PMD for enhancing its institutional capabilities to meet the emerging hydro-metrological challenges. "CMA will help PMD strengthen metrological observation network along the CPEC route in Pakistan," he added.

 

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[H3]Govt greenlights "Gwadar rail freight connectivity"[/H3]
Yasir Habib Khan | Gwadar Pro
Apr 7, 2024

GWADAR - In a major development, the Pakistani government has green-lighted the mega project "Gwadar Rail Freight Connectivity" that aims to link Gwadar Port with the rest of the country, especially the Balochistan hinterlands.

The Gwadar Rail Freight Connectivity, under the Gwadar Smart Port City Master Plan, will reinforce inland connections, enhance cargo flows, and ensure Gwadar's competitiveness as a newly emerging modern port.

It will also unlock environmental benefits by reducing the logistics and transportation carbon footprint through train freight movement, including cargo loading and unloading from the sea leg.

In this regard, Pakistan Railways and the Gwadar Port Authority have already carried out a detailed survey outlining the framework for laying down the railway track and allied structures. According to the master plan of Gwadar city and port, the track is planned for construction along Koh-e-Batil and the Eastbay Expressway.

The proposed track will connect the berths of Gwadar port with the main railway yard of Gwadar, which will be extended further upcountry. For this purpose, the Gwadar Port Authority and port operator have begun vacating the infrastructures along the route.

Following instructions from Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, the Gwadar Development Authority has initiated efforts to acquire 50 acres of land, adjacent to the already acquired Pakistan Railway land, for the construction of a container yard.

A Gwadar Port Authority official stated that the Senate Committee on Maritime Affairs has deliberated on the crucial option of railway connectivity from Gwadar Port with the ML-1 and Quetta regions. During the deliberations, the committee envisioned rail connections as playing a pivotal role in facilitating trade and transportation, positioning Gwadar Port as a pivotal hub in both national and international logistics networks.

 

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[H3]GPA completes 80% work for 10 MW electricity to Gwadar North Free Zone[/H3]
Gwadar Pro
Apr 21, 2024

Almost 80 percent work has been completed to provide 10 Mega Watt (MW) electricity in Gwadar North Free Zone, a shot in the arms for investors and companies desperately seeking power supply since the establishment of Gwadar North Free Zone. Gwadar Port Authority as executing agency will complete entire work in the third week of May.

Instead over the ground, 300 meters long underground power cables are being 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 are being laid. On reaching the factories' premises inside North Free Zone where companies including Han Geng and Agven are operating, step-down transformers will be installed to supply electricity as per their demands. Sigma, a Karachi based company is constructing the distribution network in the Gwadar North Free Zone.

Gwadar Prot Authority (GPA) official told Gwadar Pro that in light of joint feasibility survey conducted by Quetta Electric Power Supply Company (QEPSC) and China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC), Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) is executing the entire process with full throttle. Power supply will start from Gwadar Port Grid Station to main entrance of North Free Zone, he explained.

"The Deep Sea Port sole Grid Station was established in 2019 exclusively for Gwadar port and Free Zone through 3 feeders. Since inadequate power was available at the disposal of the QEPSC, Grid Station had to rely on diesel generators for production of thermal power using expensive fossil fuel at high cost in past," he added.

On a query, he said, "after power supply work completes the good news is that we will turn off 8.5 MW Diesel Generator and will link up Gwadar Port's sole Grid Station with three sources."

"One source is national grid station of Quetta. Second source is Gabd-Remdan of Iran border. Third source is Nag-Besima section of another Iran Border," he added.

COPHC official said that as matter of fact electricity being produced through 8.5 MW Diesel Generator costs around Rs. 90 per unit. However, after availability of 10 MW power in Gwadar North Free Zone, electricity cost to will be around Rs. 55 per unit. It means investors and factory owners will enjoy the saving of around Rs. 35 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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Turkmenistan is the first Central Asian country to reach Gwadar port.
Turkmenistan, China will become the first Central Asian country to access Gwadar Port under Pakistan Economic Corridor. A committee has been formed to review the agreement between Gwadar Port and Turkman Bashi Port.

 

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Pakistan Gwadar City View​

Xinhua
Sep 17, 2024

This photo shows a view of Gwadar city and its seaside in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)



GWADAR, Pakistan, Sept. 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- The Gwadar Port is a natural deep-water port bordering the Arabian Sea in Gwadar city, Balochistan province, southwest of Pakistan. People stand on mountains close to the coast and enjoy the beautiful scenery, with a buzz of ships coming and going.

Gwadar connects the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia, with a population of over 90,000.

People enjoy the scenery in Gwadar city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

This photo shows a seaside view in Gwadar city of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, Sept. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

 

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Gwadar Port gears up for Afghan transshipment​

Gwadar Pro
Sep 24, 2024

GWADAR - Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) has started flexing muscles to kick start containerized shipment fully loaded with Australian fertilizer to Afghanistan through Eastbay Expressway under fresh custom modalities.

Around 24,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizers that came from Australian ship had been processed and discharged by Gwadar Port on September 20. All the fertilizer has also been stored in warehouse at Gwadar Free Zone North.

Gwadar Port Authority official told Gwadar Pro that the warehouse is jointly owned and by two Pakistani firms, KB Ferilizers and Agven Limited. “The fertilizer after being packaged will be sent to Afghanistan through containers. Moreover, apart from importing DAP, Agven is also manufacturing Muriate of Potash (MOP) which is it exported to the tariff area (Pakistani market) and Afghanistan,” he added.

On a query, he responded that more than 230 ships berthed with approximately 1.5 million metric tons of cargo have been processed and discharged from Gwadar Port over the last eight years. On November 13, 2016, the first shipment of trade cargo was rolled out from Gwadar Port. It is estimated that Gwadar Port if equipped with designed operational system as per Gwadar Master plan, it can handle 400-500 million tons of cargo annually. Mind it, Karachi and Port Qasim, both can handle 120 million tons annually as of today.

 

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Gwadar Port prepares for Afghan transshipment: 24,000 tons of Australian fertilizer processed and stored, ready for containerized shipment to Afghanistan.

The port has handled 1.5M tons of cargo in 8 years, with potential to reach 400-500M tons annually.