Financial close: Funds arranged for Suki Kinari hydroelectric power project
Asif reiterates load-shedding will come to an end next year
Photo: File
ISLAMBAD:
Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has emphasised that work on different power projects is under way in a bid to end load-shedding in 2018.
He was speaking to journalists at the signing of financial close agreement for the 870-megawatt Suki Kinari hydroelectric power project on Monday.
Elaborating, Asif pointed out that Chashma-3 nuclear power plant with 340MW generation capacity had started operations whereas Chashma-4 would start running in April this year. “Load-shedding will end in 2018,” he said.
Power outages to end well before 2018 elections, claims ministry
“However, load-shedding will continue in those areas where recovery of electricity bills stands lower,” he clarified while claiming more than 200 feeders in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were facing no outages.
He acknowledged that power theft had been going on across the country, but the government was taking measures to control the problem.
The financial close of Suki Kinari project has been achieved and work on it will start in the next two to three months. A piece of land spread over 2,793 kanals has been purchased for the project, which will be completed in 2022.
According to Asif, Rs1.3 billion will be paid annually to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in royalty on the power project. “The Nandipur plant will begin electricity production on gas in April this year,” he announced.
Responding to a question, the minister revealed that work on the Diamer-Bhasha dam had been divided into two parts - one was related to water storage and the other would be power house.
He said the government was trying to start work on the water storage phase from its own resources. It has spent $1 billion on the purchase of land for the dam.
‘Chashma-III project vital step toward ending load-shedding’
Different countries had expressed interest in pouring capital into the Diamer-Bhasha project and construction work was expected to begin in the ongoing year, he said, declaring that the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project would be completed this year.
He also disclosed that draft of the water policy would be sent to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for approval.
Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has emphasised that work on different power projects is under way in a bid to end load-shedding in 2018.
He was speaking to journalists at the signing of financial close agreement for the 870-megawatt Suki Kinari hydroelectric power project on Monday.
Elaborating, Asif pointed out that Chashma-3 nuclear power plant with 340MW generation capacity had started operations whereas Chashma-4 would start running in April this year. “Load-shedding will end in 2018,” he said.
Power outages to end well before 2018 elections, claims ministry
“However, load-shedding will continue in those areas where recovery of electricity bills stands lower,” he clarified while claiming more than 200 feeders in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were facing no outages.
He acknowledged that power theft had been going on across the country, but the government was taking measures to control the problem.
The financial close of Suki Kinari project has been achieved and work on it will start in the next two to three months. A piece of land spread over 2,793 kanals has been purchased for the project, which will be completed in 2022.
According to Asif, Rs1.3 billion will be paid annually to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in royalty on the power project. “The Nandipur plant will begin electricity production on gas in April this year,” he announced.
Responding to a question, the minister revealed that work on the Diamer-Bhasha dam had been divided into two parts - one was related to water storage and the other would be power house.
He said the government was trying to start work on the water storage phase from its own resources. It has spent $1 billion on the purchase of land for the dam.
‘Chashma-III project vital step toward ending load-shedding’
Different countries had expressed interest in pouring capital into the Diamer-Bhasha project and construction work was expected to begin in the ongoing year, he said, declaring that the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project would be completed this year.
He also disclosed that draft of the water policy would be sent to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for approval.