The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Director, Andrew Sisson has said that the project repairing the thermal power station in Muzaffargarh would increase energy production by 400 MW, providing enough energy for more than 500,000 homes in Southern Punjab.
In a visit to the station today he reviewed the progress on the project, which was originally announced by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of a broader USAID program to help Pakistan improve its energy supply. “Muzaffargarh is part of Pakistan’s vital infrastructure that will once again generate energy for your industries, for your businesses, and for your homes.
I am happy to hear that the plant has already regained some of its power generation capacity,” said USAID Director for Pakistan Andrew Sisson during the visit. At Muzaffargharh alone, USAID-funded repairs will restore at least 400 MW of capacity that the plant had lost due to deferred maintenance and reduced fuel efficiency. The additional power would provide electricity for more than 500,000 households. The renovation of the first two power generation units has already been completed, and the remaining four will be finished by the end of the year. The repair project has already benefited local residents, many of whom have gotten jobs through the USAID-funded repairs activities.
The people of the Multan region are proud of the plant and the role it will play in building the economy of Pakistan. “I’m glad that we are able to get positive results at such a critical time,” said Mr. Sisson. In addition to Muzaffargarh, USAID is helping to repair the thermal plants in Jamshoro, as well the Tarbela hydro-plant. USAID is also funding the completion of the Gomal Zam and Satpara dam, as well as the replacement of 11,000 tubewells with more energy-efficient models. Together, these projects will add an estimated 700 MW power to the national grid, which will address nearly 15 per cent of Pakistan’s current energy shortage, by the end of 2012.
