The Construction Contract was signed with a construction consortium in July 1991, to provide engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for a 1292 MW power plant on a lump-sum, turnkey basis. The construction consortium included:

• Mitsui and Co. of Japan, consortium and commercial leader;
• Ansaldo ENERGIA of Italy, technical coordinator and designer and supplier of the turbine generators;
• Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd of Japan, designer and supplier of the boilers,
• Campenon Bernard SGE SNC of France, the civil contractor.

The Plant consists of four generating units which are each rated at 323 MW with an oil-fired single re-heat boiler and tandem compound, two cylinder condensing steam turbines directly connected to a hydrogen cooled generator. The net available output power of 1200 MW is exported to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) grid by means of the station's 5OOkV switchyard. Fuel is received by pipeline from Pakistan State Oil (PSO). Load tanker unloading facilities are also available.

The Plant design and engineering are based on proven technology. It operates on the basis of a conventional steam cycle such that the steam produced by the boilers drives the turbine generator sets to make electricity.

The thermodynamic characteristics of the units are as follows:

• Steam pressure and temperature: 170 bar, 540OC;
• single re-heating up to 540OC;
• condensate and feedwater pre-heating, up to 250OC;
• turbine exhaust pressure: 0.087 bar (2.5 in Hg). This is somewhat higher than is normal because of the high average temperature of circulating water available at the plant site.

The plant, when operating at full load converts energy in the residual fuel oil (RFO) at a thermal efficiency of approximately 38.9%.

As a result of an interim finance package arranged in anticipation of financial closure, the Construction Contract became effective when the contractors were mobilised to begin their work. Activities on the site began with soil investigations in January 1993; two months later, work on site for temporary structures could begin and within eight months, work had started on the permanent structures. The first energisation of the GIS substation and start-up transformer took place in February 1996; the first unit was first operated at full load in June 1996.

The entire plant was fully commissioned on March 31, 1997.