- Pakistan to install over 10,000 MW to system of indigenous resources by 2017
- President Xi to observe ground-breaking, inauguration of several projects
Pakistan and China on Wednesday gave final touches to development projects’ agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) which are scheduled to be signed by the leaders of both countries during the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country.
During the sitting of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) joint working group, both sides discussed the preparatory arrangements at length and expressed satisfaction over the progress on energy projects for achieving all deliverables ahead of the schedule.
A source privy to the details of the meeting told Pakistan Today that both the sides finalised the financing to the energy projects involving US$ 15 billion.
“Moreover, the meeting was informed that 16 projects, a part of the CPEC, were at an advance stage. Under the programme, Pakistan will install around 10,400 megawatts of electricity by the end of year 2017, as most of the energy projects will start functioning in two years,” the source added.
According to the source, the Chinese president will not only observe the ground-breaking ceremony for many of the early harvest projects, for which all the requirements had been made, but also the visiting dignitary will oversee dozens of new agreements to be signed on the occasion.
“The energy projects to be launched during the visit of the president Xi include Karot Hydel Project, Sukki Kinari Project, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, four wind power projects; Sacahl Power, Dawood Hydro China, Matyari-Lahore Transmission Lin,e and others,” the source added.
The meeting was co-chaired by Water and Power Secretary Mohammad Younus Dagha and National Energy Administration (NEA) China Vice Administrator Zhang Yuqing. Ministry of Planning and Reform Secretary Hasan Nawaz Tarar, Petroleum and Natural Resources Secretary Arshad Mirza, PM’s office’s additional secretary and other senior government officials attended the meeting.
NEA Department of Power Director General Han Shui, NEA Oil and Natural Gas Deputy Director General Yang Lei, representatives and heads of around 20 Chinese companies associated with these projects, Chinese banks and sponsors were also present on the occasion.
