The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will consider funding of second unit of Jamshoro coal-fired power project besides funding for smart metering in the country.
It was informed by a delegation of Asian Development Bank (ADB) led by Sean O’ Sullivan, Director General, Central West Asia Department (CWRD), Asian Development Bank, which called on Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Federal Minister for Water and Power on Wednesday. It may be added that the ADB is already funding the coal-fired Jamshoro power plant.
Mohammad Younas Dagha, secretary ministry for water and power, and other senior officials of the ministry also attended the meeting.
The minister lauded the role of Asian Development Bank in the infrastructure development, particularly in the power sector of the country. He apprised the delegation about the initiatives taken by the present government for resolving the energy issues being faced by the country. “Since 2013, things are improving day by day and the prime minister is very keen to redress the issue on top priority,” said the minister.
The secretary water and power briefed the delegation about the Unit II of the Jamshoroo Power coal-fired project and urged for ADB’s allocation of additional fund for the project. He further apprised the delegation that funding of $100 million were required for up gradation of railways track from Kotri to Jamshooro for transportation of coal to the power plant. The minister said that he would personally pursue approval of PCs for smart metering project which had already been submitted with the ministry of planning, development and reforms.
The delegation assured that they would explore all the possibilities for the additional funding of the power project and for the installation of smart metering in Rawalpindi and Lahore to help check power theft.