ajpirzada
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By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: The national spirit prevailed on the second day of the energy conference as all stakeholders, despite a heated debate, agreed to equally share the burden of the power crisis.
The industrial sector volunteered to forego its share of gas depending upon the timings of the one-day holiday, which will be staggered . Similarly, the CNG dealers also agreed to go for one weekly holiday provided it is countrywide and on the same day.
The ministry of petroleum and natural resources informed the meeting that 350-400 mmcf gas could be saved for power generation, but a final decision would be made after the recommendations of the sub technical committee on the issue.
The ministry official said if one day holiday is introduced in the industrial sector and if CNG stations are also closed for one day in a week, then 235 mmcf gas per day will be saved for power generation which will enhance electricity generation by 940 MW and if the sub committee on gas diversion issue manages to save 350 mmcfd gas per day, then the system would have 1,400 MW of additional electricity.
The official said if two weekly holidays are observed then the country will save about 800 MW of electricity. With early closure of markets and wedding halls, the system will save over 500 MW per day. He said consensus is emerging on the issue of early closure of markets.
However, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank on the second day of the energy moot also underscored the need for energy conservation as a short-term solution and to bridge the gap between power load and supply.
Both the donor agencies also asked the government to expedite the projects of the new IPPs to get 2,067 MW of electricity in the ongoing year. They also asked the government to ensure the setting up of eight rental power plants to get 1,125 MW of electricity in 2010. In addition, they asked the government to expedite the projects of Nandipuir and Cheechuki Malian, new plants in Guddu power house and rehabilitation of four Gencos to get about 2,350 MW of electricity.
However, a representative of the fertiliser industry feared that allocation of their share of gas to power sector would harm agriculture and the farmers. A press release issued here on Tuesday says that the conference has constituted four technical sub committees that will submit final recommendations. Their recommendations shall be submitted by the minister for water & power to the prime minister for approval. The four sub committees are: energy conservation committee; capacity additions committee; medium term & long term policy measures committee and a special committee to consider miscellaneous energy-specific issues. The four sub committees have representatives from four provincial governments, the federal governments power and gas sector organisations and private sector representatives from trade, chambers of commerce and industry. These committees shall be convened by their respective conveners to meet on Wednesday and firm up their conclusions/recommendations for final submission the same day.
The second day session was exclusively devoted to technical presentations by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Pepco, the Thar Coal Energy Board, AEDB and other private sector stakeholders covering a range of energy-specific issues affecting the economy and industry alike. Provincial chief ministers, ministers for petroleum, information, food & agriculture and representatives of the finance division attended the meeting.
The participants held marathon brainstorming sessions over two days to resolve the existing energy crisis through consensus and affirming commitment to share the burden equitably. At the end of the second day, the provincial chief ministers and federal ministers for Water & Power, Information and Broadcasting, Food & Agriculture and Petroleum & Natural resources called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and apprised him of the two days proceedings. Final decisions based on the technical sub committees recommendations shall be approved and announced by the prime minister on Thursday.
Final decisions tomorrow
ISLAMABAD: The national spirit prevailed on the second day of the energy conference as all stakeholders, despite a heated debate, agreed to equally share the burden of the power crisis.
The industrial sector volunteered to forego its share of gas depending upon the timings of the one-day holiday, which will be staggered . Similarly, the CNG dealers also agreed to go for one weekly holiday provided it is countrywide and on the same day.
The ministry of petroleum and natural resources informed the meeting that 350-400 mmcf gas could be saved for power generation, but a final decision would be made after the recommendations of the sub technical committee on the issue.
The ministry official said if one day holiday is introduced in the industrial sector and if CNG stations are also closed for one day in a week, then 235 mmcf gas per day will be saved for power generation which will enhance electricity generation by 940 MW and if the sub committee on gas diversion issue manages to save 350 mmcfd gas per day, then the system would have 1,400 MW of additional electricity.
The official said if two weekly holidays are observed then the country will save about 800 MW of electricity. With early closure of markets and wedding halls, the system will save over 500 MW per day. He said consensus is emerging on the issue of early closure of markets.
However, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank on the second day of the energy moot also underscored the need for energy conservation as a short-term solution and to bridge the gap between power load and supply.
Both the donor agencies also asked the government to expedite the projects of the new IPPs to get 2,067 MW of electricity in the ongoing year. They also asked the government to ensure the setting up of eight rental power plants to get 1,125 MW of electricity in 2010. In addition, they asked the government to expedite the projects of Nandipuir and Cheechuki Malian, new plants in Guddu power house and rehabilitation of four Gencos to get about 2,350 MW of electricity.
However, a representative of the fertiliser industry feared that allocation of their share of gas to power sector would harm agriculture and the farmers. A press release issued here on Tuesday says that the conference has constituted four technical sub committees that will submit final recommendations. Their recommendations shall be submitted by the minister for water & power to the prime minister for approval. The four sub committees are: energy conservation committee; capacity additions committee; medium term & long term policy measures committee and a special committee to consider miscellaneous energy-specific issues. The four sub committees have representatives from four provincial governments, the federal governments power and gas sector organisations and private sector representatives from trade, chambers of commerce and industry. These committees shall be convened by their respective conveners to meet on Wednesday and firm up their conclusions/recommendations for final submission the same day.
The second day session was exclusively devoted to technical presentations by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, Pepco, the Thar Coal Energy Board, AEDB and other private sector stakeholders covering a range of energy-specific issues affecting the economy and industry alike. Provincial chief ministers, ministers for petroleum, information, food & agriculture and representatives of the finance division attended the meeting.
The participants held marathon brainstorming sessions over two days to resolve the existing energy crisis through consensus and affirming commitment to share the burden equitably. At the end of the second day, the provincial chief ministers and federal ministers for Water & Power, Information and Broadcasting, Food & Agriculture and Petroleum & Natural resources called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and apprised him of the two days proceedings. Final decisions based on the technical sub committees recommendations shall be approved and announced by the prime minister on Thursday.
Final decisions tomorrow