US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson reaffirmed support to the project during a meeting with Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar on Friday and discussed various matters of mutual interest and to enhance bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
Olson said US will continue to support the people of Pakistan and help improve the local power sector. He said Diamer Bhasha Dam was an important project for future water requirements and to generate cheaper power, adding that US was interested in hydropower projects in Pakistan.
He said that Diamer Bhasha project will be discussed during the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue to be held next month in Washington.
The US is assisting Pakistan in various power sector projects such as modernisation of Tarbela and Mangla dams, upgrading the Jamshoro, Guddu, Muzaffargarh thermal plants, providing funding for completion of Gomal Zam Dam and Satpata Dam projects. These energy projects are expected to add 900 megawatts to the national grid by 2013.
Mukhtar appreciated US cooperation and assistance and said that the support will help improve the efficiency of the state-owned power entities. The government, he said, was working on power sector reforms, rehabilitation, upgradation of power generation companies, improvement in operations of distribution companies, distribution of 30 million energy savers, installation of smart metres, improvement in recoveries, controlling power theft and reduction in line losses.
He added that Pakistan was focusing on coal generation and also briefed the US envoy on conversion of thermal plants to coal. It will help save foreign exchange and generate cheaper electricity, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2012.
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