Profile
Plant
Thar Energy Limited (TEL), an
independent power producer (IPP), has developed a 330 MW (gross) mine-mouth
Thar coal-based power plant at Block II, Thar Coal Mine, District Tharparkar,
Sindh, in accordance with the Letter of Support (LOS) from the Private Power
and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). Operating on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis,
the project achieved Financial Close on January 30, 2020, and the plant reached
its Commercial Operations Date (COD) on October 1, 2022. The Company also
achieved its Project Completion Date (PCD) on October 30, 2025.
Tariff
TEL
has been awarded a levelized tariff of US¢8.5015/kWh (PKR 8.2550/kWh) by NEPRA
for its coal power project, with a control period of 30 years from COD. The
tariff is indexed to the Pakistan Rupee-US Dollar exchange rate, US &
Pakistan CPI inflation, and interest rate benchmarks such as KIBOR and SOFR.
Principal and interest repayments, return on equity (ROE), insurance, and fixed
and variable O&M costs form part of the adjustable tariff components. Under
the revised tariff for the July-September 2026 quarter, the capacity charge is
Rs. 11.3459/KWh and the energy purchase price is Rs. 1.0627/KWh.
Return on Project
As per NEPRA’s tariff
determination, TEL is entitled to a Return on Equity (ROE) of 30.65% per
annum, applicable to the project with a 40-month construction period. Since the
plant achieved commercial operations in October 2022, this ROE is embedded in
the approved tariff and contributes to the company’s regulated returns.
Ownership
Ownership Structure
Thar Energy Limited (TEL) is
sponsored by The Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO), Fauji Fertilizer Company
Limited (FFC), and China Machinery & Engineering Corporation (CMEC) through
CMEC Tel Power Investments Limited (CMEC Dubai). HUBCO holds the controlling
stake of 60%, followed by FFC with 30% and CMEC with 10%. As part of the HUBCO
Group’s growth strategy, TEL forms a key component of its coal-based portfolio
under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reflecting strong
collaboration between local and international partners.
Stability
Stability is underpinned by the
long-term strategic investment of its sponsoring groups, including The Hub
Power Company Limited (HUBCO), Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited, and China
Machinery & Engineering Corporation (CMEC) through CMEC TEL Investments.
This strong and diversified sponsorship ensures TEL’s long-term sustainability
and operational resilience.
Business Acumen
The sponsor groups have a proven
track record in developing and operating power projects across Pakistan,
spanning thermal, coal, and renewable energy sources. HUBCO, as the major
sponsor, is one of the country’s largest independent power producers, with a
total installed power generation capacity of 3,581 MW across its directly and
indirectly held power assets. The portfolio comprises the 1,292 MW Hub Power
Plant, 225 MW Narowal Energy Limited, 84 MW Laraib Energy Limited, 1,320 MW
China Power Hub Generation Company Limited (CPHGC), 330 MW Thar Energy Limited
(TEL), and 330 MW ThalNova Power Thar (TNPTL). These assets are held through a
combination of direct ownership, subsidiaries, and joint ventures, including
Hub Power Holdings Limited (HPHL).
Financial Strength
Diversified across multiple
sectors, HUBCO and the Fauji Group are among Pakistan’s top conglomerates,
supported by strong financial foundations. Their partner, China Machinery &
Engineering Corporation (CMEC), brings global engineering expertise and
international project experience, further reinforcing TEL’s operational and
strategic strength. The sponsors have invested a total of Rs. 19,956 million in
paid-up equity in TEL, comprising Rs. 11,974 million by The Hub Power Company
Limited (HUBCO), Rs. 5,987 million by Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC)
and Rs. 1,996 million by CMEC TEL Power Investments Limited (CMEC). Together
with retained earnings, this has resulted in total shareholders' equity of Rs.
40,779 million as of June 30, 2026 (Jun-25: Rs. 45,141 million).
Governance
Board Structure
TEL’s
Board of Directors comprises seven members, including six non-executive members
and the CEO. HUBCO has four nominees on the board (including the Chief
Executive Officer), Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) is represented by
two members, while China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) has one
nominee. The current board members are Mr. Muhammad Kamran Kamal (Chairman),
Mr. Aly Khan, Mr. Muhammad Saqib, and Mr. Amjad Ali Raja (CEO) as Hubco
nominees; Mr. Jahangir Piracha and Mr. Syed Atif Ali as FFC nominees; and Mr.
Zhao Wenke as the CMEC nominee.
Members’ Profile
Mr. Kamran Kamal is the Chairman
of the Board of Directors of TEL and also the CEO of The Hub Power Company
Limited (HUBCO). He has been associated with HUBCO Group in various capacities
and brings vast experience of the local power sector. The remaining members
also possess sufficient experience in their respective fields.
Board Effectiveness
The board conducts regular
meetings to discuss matters relating to the Company's operations and
financials, along with providing supervision and granting approval for other
policies of the Company.
Financial Transparency
A.F. Ferguson & Co., Chartered Accountants (Category 'A'), a
reputable and long-established audit and assurance firm in Pakistan, serve as
the external auditors of TEL.
Management
Organizational Structure
IPPs are generally featured by a
flat organizational structure, mainly comprising finance and technical staff,
while the engineering, construction and operations of the plant are outsourced.
Management Team
Mr. Amjad Ali Raja has been
appointed as the CEO in July 2024. He has been associated with HUBCO group
since 2013. With an engineering background, Mr. Amjad brings 22 years of
experience in the energy sector. The remaining team of individuals possess prerequisite
qualification and experience.
Effectiveness
The management is majorly engaged
in operational matters relating to the Company including invoicing to CPPAG,
internal audit, preparation of accounts and tariff determination while the
plant's operations and maintenance are outsourced.
Control Environment
The management has developed a
comprehensive internal audit function which ensures timely delivery of data and
reports. Furthermore, the operation and maintenance contractors deliver reports
to the management relating to the plant operations to ensure smoothness.
Operational Risk
Power Purchase Agreement
Thar Energy Limited has executed
a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Central Power Purchasing
Agency-Government (CPPA-G), under which TEL will supply electricity and issue
invoices for both the Energy Purchase Price and the Capacity Purchase Price.
The PPA ensures revenue certainty over the term, tying payments to availability
(capacity) and actual energy supplied.
Operation and Maintenance
Thar Energy Limited has entered
into a long-term contractual arrangement with Hub Power Services Limited
(HPSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUBCO, to manage the plant’s operations
and maintenance. As part of this, GE Power has also been awarded equipment
supply and a 12-year maintenance services agreement for TEL, covering boiler,
turbine and generator support, spare parts, inspections, and advisory services.
Resource Risk
TEL sources its coal requirements
from Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) under a 30-year Coal Supply
Agreement signed at the project’s inception. The risk primarily arises if SECMC
fails to deliver the contracted coal quantity or quality, which may affect
plant availability and generation. Since the plant is designed specifically for
Thar lignite, the absence of alternate local suppliers further heightens
dependency on SECMC. Mitigation is provided through a long-term contractual
framework and regulatory mechanisms, yet supply chain disruptions, operational
challenges at the mine, or policy shifts could still pose risks to TEL’s
performance.
Insurance Cover
TEL has arranged comprehensive
insurance policies to safeguard its assets and operations. The coverage
includes material damage, machinery breakdown, third-party liability, and
business interruption/delay in startup losses, ensuring protection of both physical
assets and revenue streams. In addition, contractors are contractually bound to
pay Liquidated Damages (LDs) in the event that benchmark performance ratios are
not achieved. These measures collectively mitigate operational and financial
risks associated with unforeseen events, ensuring continuity of plant
operations and revenue stability.
Performance Risk
Industry Dynamics
As of March 2026, Pakistan's
total installed generation capacity reached 49,651 MW. This is 8.5% higher than
45,782 MW a year earlier. The growth was driven mainly by net-metered
distributed solar (7,319 MW cumulative). Over the same period, 13 thermal IPPs
totaling 5,105 MW were retired or closed. Clean sources (hydel, nuclear and
renewables) now account for the majority of installed capacity at 50.8%, up
from 43.3% a year earlier. Thermal's share fell to 49.2% from 56.7%.
Total generation for FY26 rose
1.2% YoY to 128,700 GWh. Combined local and imported coal generation climbed to
22.9% of the mix, up from 19.4% in FY25. This was led by a 51.6% YoY surge in
imported coal. Reduced RLNG availability and elevated LNG costs pushed dispatch
toward coal.
This trend sharpened further in
Jul'26. Power demand rose 7.1% YoY to 15,122 GWh. Coal-based generation reached
3,819 GWh (+44% YoY), the highest for any July, with imported coal up 90% YoY.
Generation
Net electrical output of the
plant during FY26 stood at 1,822 GWh (FY25: 1,594 GWh) with a load factor of
69%. The power purchaser continued to source electricity from the plant on
priority owing to its low cost of generation.
Performance Benchmark
The required availability for
Thar Energy Limited under the PPA is 85%, while the required efficiency is 37%.
During the period, the plant maintained an average availability of 90.5%,
comfortably exceeding the contractual requirement, while average efficiency
stood at 36.84%, broadly in line with the benchmark.
Financial Risk
Financing Structure Analysis
The project cost of the 330 MW
plant is approx. USD 520 million, financed through 75% debt (USD 390 million)
and 25% equity (USD 130 million). The debt portion has been arranged through a
mix of foreign (~67%) and local (~33%) financing. The foreign debt was provided
by a consortium of Chinese lenders led by China Development Bank (CDB) and
China Minsheng Banking Corporation Limited, with CDB also acting as financial
advisor. The local debt was arranged by a consortium of Pakistani banks led by
Bank Alfalah Limited, including HBL, BAHL, NBP, FBL, SBL, and Soneri Bank
Limited, with HBL serving as local financial advisor. Foreign debt was
initially priced at 6-month LIBOR plus 4.05% per annum, later amended to Daily
SOFR + 0.42826% credit adjustment spread + 4.05% per annum, while local debt
carries pricing of 3-month KIBOR plus 3.5% per annum, both payable
semi-annually. The financing agreements were executed in December 2018, with an
effective date of March 6, 2020, and repayments structured in 20 semi-annual
instalments (first disbursements in March 2020 for local debt and August 2021
for foreign debt). The loans are secured against a first-ranking hypothecation
charge over project assets and pledged shares of the Company in favor of the
Security Trustee. Equity contributions were provided by Hub Power Company, Fauji
Fertilizer Company Limited, and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC).
As of June 2026, approximately 17% of PKR and 27.2% of USD debt has been
repaid.
Liquidity Profile
TEL, under its off-take agreement
with CPPA(G), is entitled to receive capacity payments as long as the plant
maintains contractual availability, regardless of whether a purchase order is
placed. As of June 2026, the Company's trade receivables from CPPA(G) stood at
PKR 17,731 million (2025: PKR 18,321 million), including PKR 1,112 million
overdue from 6 to 12 months and PKR 519 million overdue for more than 1 year.
Circular debt remains a persistent challenge for the power sector, compelling
IPPs to rely on short-term borrowings and internal cash generation to manage
liquidity.
Working Capital Financing
Due to rising trade receivables
from CPPA(G), gross working capital cycle stood at 131 days as of June 2026
(June 2025: 115 days). Net working capital days were recorded at 58 days in
June 2026, compared to 22 days in June 2025. The Company is managing its
working capital requirements through a mix of internal cash generation and
short-term banking facilities, while future financing remains dependent on the
payment behavior of the power purchaser against outstanding receivables.
Cash Flow Analysis
In
FY26, the Company's Free Cash Flow from Operations (FCFO) stood at PKR 25,440
million, compared to PKR 24,326 million in FY25. Coverage ratios strengthened
further: EBITDA/Finance Cost improved to 3.0x (FY25: 2.3x; FY24: 2.0x) and
FCFO/Finance Cost improved to 3.2x (FY25: 2.4x), aided by a decline in finance
cost to PKR 7,894 million (FY25: PKR 10,024 million), reflecting lower average
debt balances following continued repayments and a lower average borrowing
rate.
Capitalization
As of June 30, 2026, Thar Energy Limited’s capital structure improved, with leveraging at 63.3% (Jun-25: 64.3%; Jun-24: 72.0%). Shareholders’ equity stood at Rs. 40,779 million (Jun-25: Rs. 45,141 million; Jun-24: Rs. 34,520 million), after dividend payouts of Rs. 18,080 million during the year (Jun-25: nil). Total borrowings declined to Rs. 70,383 million (Jun-25: Rs. 81,422 million; Jun-24: Rs. 88,555 million), continuing the company’s multi-period deleveraging trend, supported by a net asset base of Rs. 40,779 million.
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