26 power stations under construction

The Senate is informed that work on 26 multiple-fuel power stations in the private sector is in progress .

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday was informed that work was in progress on 26 multiple-fuel power stations in the private sector which will generate around 5,700 megawatts.

Answering questions in the house, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said eight projects have already gone into operation while 11 more will be operational by the end of this year. The remaining projects would come on stream by 2015.

He said that cases of electricity theft have been registered against over 33,000 people during the last two years and 461 of them were arrested. He said a new law will be introduced under which people involved in power theft will not be allowed a new connections using another name.

Minister for Petroleum Naveed Qamar informed the house that British Petroleum Company is working on four projects besides 49 lease projects which are producing 9,297 barrels of oil and 239 million cubic feet of gas per day.

To a question, he said gas pipelines in various parts of the country were attacked 54 times during the last three years, causing financial losses of Rs382 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, October  2^nd, 2010.