Viable energy sources: PM lauds alternative energy projects across country

Lists Thar coal project a priority in order to address power crisis

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, while meeting with a delegation from the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, said that the development of the Thar Coal Project was a top priority.

The premier said the project would ultimately offer a cheap, indigenous solution to the energy crisis on a permanent basis, adding that it holds Pakistan’s key for a prosperous future.

“I will soon visit the site of the Thar Coal Project being undertaken under the leadership of Dr Samar Mubarik Mand pertaining to underground gasification meant for power generation,” the prime minister said.

The CEO of the Alternate Energy Board briefed the prime minister about three windmill projects that will start functioning on an experimental basis by the end of this month in Jhimpir and would start producing 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity by the end of next year.

The prime minister said that he would visit Jhimpir Project by the end of this month to observe the experimental operation of a power generation turbine powered by windmills established by Fauji Fertilizer.

Keeping in view the difficulties faced by the industrialists and the business community due to increased power outages, the prime minister assured the attendees of the meeting that “I am committed to ease up the load shedding in the country as soon as possible and as a matter of fact, some improvement has already been felt by the people in the country.”

The energy crisis would further improve as hydro electric generation was going to be increased due to a considerable swell in the flow of rivers attributed to the monsoon season and the melting of glaciers, Prime Minister Ashraf added.

The prime minister also appreciated the industrialists for the adoption of surface gasifier plants to meet energy requirements, which in turn enabled them to meet their production targets.

Premier Ashraf said that he appreciated the private sector’s ability to produce around 2000MW of electricity through bio-gas, another indigenous source of energy.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2012.