1,000 megawatts more power to national grid from June 10: action plan approved
ISLAMABAD (June 03 2008): A plan for generating around 1000 MW additional electricity from the existing private and public sector plants has been approved here on Monday. The additional electricity will be available to the national grid from June 10.
A high-level inter-ministerial meeting, presided over by Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, approved the plan that will reduce the quantum of load management by about two hours daily. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that co-ordinated efforts of all concerned were required to cope with the prevailing power crisis and to generate additional electricity.
The meeting discussed ways and means to maximise power generation in the country, particularly in the summer, and approved a three-month action plan. Secretary and Advisor on Water and Power, additional secretaries, finance and petroleum, Managing Director of Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), managing directors of Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Sui Gas Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), chief executives officers (CEOs) of all generation companies (Gencos) and senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting.
The minister directed the Pepco MD to take immediate measures to meet the target to generate additional power of 1000 MW from the Gencos, and the IPPs from the current month.
He also asked the Gencos to keep their plants in order on maximum capacity and no shut down on minor faults would be allowed. He was of the view that today the country was facing shortage of about 4000 MW electricity, which had affected the economy and all segments of society.
It was decided in the meeting that all the concerned ministries would extend cooperation with each other to generate maximum electricity from the Gencos and IPPs to reduce the gap between demand and supply. The representative of Finance assured the meeting to provide enough financial resources to the Pepco within a week time to reduce its financial burden and payments to fuel supply companies.
The Petroleum Ministry would supply the maximum gas to all Gencos and ensured timely supply of furnace oil to the public and private power projects to enable them to generate additional power of 1000 MW during the summer season.
The Pepco MD assured the meeting of generating 1000 MW from the existing plants of the Gencos and IPPs from June 10, after receiving funds and required gas supply to the power plants.
Earlier, the representatives of Finance and Petroleum and Gencos CEOs gave a detailed briefing to the Minister on the financial matter related to cash resources and immediate release of sufficient funds, supply of fuel and gas, and generation capability during peak and off-peak hours, respectively.
Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]
