Pakistan to import electricity from India

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Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar has said that Pakistan had decided in principle to import electricity from India to meet its energy requirements. He said this while talking to a four-member Indian delegation of Global Energy, who called on him led by Harry Dhaul at his office. The delegation is visiting Pakistan to discuss the possibilities of exporting power from India to Pakistan in continuation with the meeting of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and the Indian prime minister held in China.
The minister said Pakistan was facing difficulties due to a shortage of electricity and early import of power from India would help bridge the demand-supply gap. He said the electricity trade between the two countries would enhance the economic ties and bilateral relations.
Qamar said it was Pakistan’s desire that the modalities, tariff and terms and conditions for import of power may be finalized at the earliest so that the project may be started soon.
He said initially, Pakistan might import up to 500MW which may be supplied with the construction of small transmission lines from both sides.
The minister also directed the ministry, NTDC and Central Power Purchasing Agency to finalize the terms and conditions and submit the initial report in the next week for further processing.
Harry Dhaul said they were interested in long-term relations and would export reliable electricity to Pakistan. He said the electricity trade was beneficial for both countries and would open new avenues of economic ties.
During the meeting, it was agreed that Pakistan and India would construct 45 Kilometer 220 KV transmission lines within six months after formal agreement in this respect. The agreement would be for five years and would be negotiable for extension for another five years or more.

7 COMMENTS

  1. understand electricity and cost………why it will be cheaper to import electricity from Indian rather than generating electricity from Diesel or setting up coal based power plants and wait for 5-7 yrs to solve electricity problem

  2. This is ridiculous. Electricity generating companies in Pakistan are under utilized and sitting idle as the Government has no money to pa them to generate electricity and they want buy from India and Iran, with what? The Government can hoodwink local generators by not paying them for months on end,
    India and Iran won't supply on payable when able credit!

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