Industries face no power outages, claims minister

Govt has saved Rs220b with audits in power sector

LAHORE: Pakistan’s dark days will end before the next general elections since efforts of the government have reversed the downturn in the power sector, said State Minister for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali.

“Increase in power generation and augmented transmission system have led to zero load-shedding for industries,” Ali said.

In order to check corruption, the government has ensured an audit of various power projects including the Nandipur project, he said, adding the Rs58-billion PC-I of the Nandipur project was prepared by past governments and vested interests failed the scheme.

“We have completed the project as per sanctioned expenditures and it is generating 100 megawatts at Rs11.5 per unit as determined by Nepra.”

According to Ali, Nandipur power plant achieved the peak generation at 460MW some days ago when hydropower production dipped to 2,000MW. Now, the government is giving priority to inexpensive hydroelectric power production, which currently stands at 4,000MW.

“The overall load-shedding duration has been reduced from 18 hours a day in the past to only six hours in cities and eight hours in rural areas,” Ali said, adding electricity is nevertheless suspended for a longer period in areas with huge line losses and excessive power theft.

“The government is also working on various re-gasified liquefied natural gas power plants with a capacity of over 3,600MW and they will be operational by 2017,” he claimed, noting 400km-long transmission lines will connect these plants with the national grid.

Responding to a question, he said the government has saved the country Rs220 billion by introducing audits in the power sector and improved the recovery rate of distribution companies to 67%-100%.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also asked his team to organise open forums to address complaints of over-billing,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.

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