- Premier vows to increase power generation by 21,000 MW, lauds China and Qatar’s collaboration for 1,320 MW coal-based power plant at Port Qasim
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that the present government was committed to addressing the issue of power shortage in the country and would encourage the local and foreign investment in the energy sector.
“We will eliminate darkness from this country and a day will come when every house will have electricity,” the prime minister said while speaking at the groundbreaking of 1,320 mega watts (MW) coal-based power plant at Port Qasim.
The power project is a joint venture of Chinese Sinohydro Resources Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Power Construction Corporation of China, and Qatar’s Al Mirqab Capital, which will undertake development of two 660 MW coal-based power projects.
The prime minister said that his government did not waste a single day during the last 11 months and the current 660 MW project, which is the first phase of 1,320 MW power project, reflected the government’s commitment to addressing the energy crisis.
The premier said he had no doubt in his mind from the first day of his government that realising the dream of socio-economic development was impossible without addressing the issue of energy.
“The severity of this crisis required hard work on power projects so that we could replace the darkness with lights,” he remarked. He said the groundbreaking of power project at Port Qasim had a special significance given the importance of Karachi in Pakistan’s economy.
The prime minister said the government would increase the power generation to 21,000 MW. He said since the production of electricity from the coal-fired power plants was cheaper, 10 coal-based power projects with a capacity of 660 MW each were being initiated at Gadani in Balochistan, which would add a total of 6,600 MW electricity in the national grid. He said 3,500 MW electricity would be generated from Diamer Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan.
Moreover, the prime minister said that 950 MW of electricity would be available from the Neelum-Jhelum power project next year. He also referred to other power projects including 1,320 MW project at Jamshoro and others in Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh, Sahiwal and Jhang.
The premier said that with coal-fired power generation, the cost of electricity would be reduced, enabling the masses to get electricity according to their purchasing power.
“It is our desire that we should not only have ample power at our disposal but also achieve cost-effectiveness so that masses can get relief,” he added. He said it was a matter of immense pleasure that Chinese Power China Company and Qatar’s Al Mirqab Capital had collaborated to initiate this project.
The projected time of completion for the project is 2017, he said and added that looking at the past performances of the companies, he was confident that the project would be completed ahead of the scheduled time.
“These energy projects are a result of our successful foreign policy which also shows the consistency and perseverance in the Pak-China relationship,” he added.
The prime minister observed that China had assisted Pakistan to resolve the energy crisis with sincerity which had set an example in the comity of nations.
Referring to Chinese cooperation in other sectors of economy, he said it was appreciable that Pak-China joint projects could be seen at “the heights of Himalayas and in the depths of Arabian Sea”.
“These are early harvest projects and will bear fruit in short time. Pak-China friendship will play a crucial role in stabilizing the economy of Pakistan as well as bringing peace and prosperity in the region,” he added.
About Qatar’s cooperation in the energy sector, the prime minister noted that it was also very crucial and hoped that the project would further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
About the load management in the country, he said that as soon as the temperature increased, the demand for power had shot up and given the gap between the demand and supply of electricity, the duration of load shedding had increased.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Provincial Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for Information Pervez Rasheed and State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali were also present on the occasion.
I agree with the prime minister’s remarks, “The severity of this crisis darkness with lights”. It is only wishful thinking without required funding. May I ask the prime minister to give any good reason for not providing funds to Neelum-Jehlum Hydropower Project during the last eleven months of his government?required day and night work on power projects, so that we could replace the
I agree with the prime minister’s remarks, “The severity of this crisis required day and night work on power projects, so that we could replace the darkness with lights”. It is only wishful thinking without required funding. May I ask the prime minister to give any good reason for not providing funds to Neelum-Jehlum Hydropower Project during the last eleven months of his government.
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