Power ship to reduce energy shortage: Ashraf

Karkey Karadeniz power ship of Turkey to contribute to electricity generation in Karachi.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf has said the Karkey Karadeniz power ship of Turkey will contribute to electricity generation in Karachi and help reduce its shortage.

He said this while talking to a delegation of Karkey Karadeniz power ship, which along with the Turkish ambassador to Pakistan met with the minister here on Tuesday.

The minister, while appreciating the arrival of the second Turkish power ship, said it will not only stabilise power supply to Karachi, but even cut fuel transportation cost and transmission losses.

He said Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has been asked to complete the connectivity requirements at the earliest so that the plant could start power generation within two weeks.

He said Turkish investors will be facilitated in all respect and their investment will be protected. The Turkish ambassador said his government is eagerly awaiting the supply of electricity from the ship to the people of Karachi. He said the Turkish government is fully supporting the investment and hoped it will provide relief for power consumers.

Earlier, Karkey Karadeniz Director Nuray Atacik briefed the minister on the project and said the additional capacity would be instrumental in meeting the needs of industrial sector and manufacturing units of Karachi, in case of any shortfall in the coming summer.

The first power ship of 220 megawatts arrived in Karachi on November 17, 2010, while the second power ship Karkey Karadeniz of 110MW reached a couple of days ago.

Connection between Karkey and Karachi has been commissioned while Alican Bey is being connected. Karkey has completed its test generation.

Atacik added Karkey is expected to lead to savings of up to Rs6 billion a year for the Pakistan government by saving fuel transportation cost and eliminating transmission losses. It will also provide a secure generation capacity to Karachi and subsequently to the rest of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2011.