Punjab Mines and Minerals Minister Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan said on Monday that energy crisis will be over by 2018, as provincial and federal governments are utilising all possible resources in this regard.
The provincial government has introduced semi-mechanized mining technology and latest machinery to get a maximum production of local coal to operate its coal fired power plants.
Presiding over a meeting in this regard, he said that promotion of latest technology in the mining sector and capacity building of mines and minerals department was the top priority of the Punjab government.
“We are lucky to have 600 million tons of local coal reserves in Salt Range area of the province and Punjab government is providing maximum possible facilities and incentives to local and foreign investors, private sectors and industrialists for mining of these coal reserves at low production cost,” he maintained.
Ch Sher Ali Khan said that 100 MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Plant at Bahawalpur, which is already operational, has started its production, whereas work at RLNG based power plants at Bhikki, Hawaili Bahadur Shah and Balluki was underway speedily.
He further said that the government had also started its 250 MW wind energy project at district Rajanpur in southern Punjab, adding the project would be completed next year.
The minister said that modern technology would be helpful in utilisation of domestic coal reserves. He said that energy conservation was also the need of hour for which consumers should supplement the efforts of the government.
He said the Punjab government was spending sufficient amount of funds on energy production by promoting alternate energy resources. A number of coal fired power projects including 300 MW in Pind Dadan Khan and 1,320 MW project in Sahiwal are also in the pipeline that would help overcome the energy challenges faced by the country, he added.