Pakistan

Gilani convenes energy conference

Express April 19, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has convened a two-day conference to evolve a strategy to overcome power shortages in the country.

All the four chief ministers, federal ministers and energy experts will attend the conference. The conference will discuss diversification of gas resources, resolution of issues of payments to Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and construction of hydel and coal power generation plants.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is expected to react strongly to long power outages in the province.

COMMENTS (1)

Shahid Raza | 14 years ago | Reply It is a well known fact that Pakistan’s existing installed capacity is more or less 21000 MWe however, due to one or another reason production is not going beyond 11000 MWe. In these days peak demand in the country is touching 15500 MWe. This implies a shortfall of nearly about 5500 MWe. Concerned authorities should pay their attention to find out the reasons why we are not able to produce the energy that we can produce i.e. 21000 MWe or at least at par the peak demand. I think investing in new power projects is definitely not the need of the hour; instead efforts need to be taken to put the idle plants in operation. However, as a long term measure, coal fired and hydel plants could be the best options but considering the current situation of fund shortage due to which circular debt is mounting, how government will be able to invest billions of dollars in these new projects. In short, to combat with the power crisis Government should take all necessary measures to make operational all idle plants so as to attain the power generation capacity upto 21000 MWe i.e. installed capacity.

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