PM declares energy emergency

Demanding an “emergency” response to the energy crisis in the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given approval to immediately start work on installing two power plants in Gaddani and Port Qasim.

The prime minister further directed establishing a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) to track the progress of these projects.

He was chairing a high-level meeting on energy that was attended by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbassi, Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and Special Assistant to PM Dr Mussadiq Malick.

During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the progress on Neelum-Jehlum and Nandipur power projects and was informed that these projects were on track.

The prime minister was also informed that a coal based power project with the help of Asian Development Bank was being started in Jamshoro and would be completed in two years’ time.

Nawaz directed that work on these projects be carried on war footing and that he himself considered the strategy of “energy response” as “energy emergency”.

Any lapse in implementation would be unacceptable, the PM added. He was also briefed on the government’s effort for reduction of line losses.

He was also informed about the medium term initiatives of the government to overcome the power shortage that included Wind Energy generation of 2,000MW by 2016, CASA project of 1,000MW by 2017, Terbela-V extension project by 2017 and development of 1,000MW power project in Quaid-e-AzamSolarPark by the government of Punjab. The Punjab government also agreed to start work on a power plant at Port Qasim.

The PM also ordered timely completion of Nandi Pur, Neelum and Jhelum projects.

However, no decision was made on gas load shedding during winter and the PM summoned a cabinet meeting on October 26 to consider the matter further.