Punjab cabinet okays setting up of 1,200MW gas power plant in Muzaffargarh

[Kabira]

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Wednesday accorded approval to set up 1,200MW gas power plant in the province.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, also gave approval for establishing Safe City Project in six cities of the province, including Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sargodha, in the first phase.

An agreement between the Punjab government, Agriculture Department and Akhuwat foundation was also approved to provide interest-free loans to smallholders and landless farmers for which the provincial government would set up a revolving fund with an initial amount of Rs 2 billion.

Amendments to different laws, including the Punjab E-Stamp Rules 2016, Punjab Sales Tax on Services (Amended) Ordinance 2016, Fort Munro Development Act 2016 and the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, 2016 were also approved, besides establishment of the Punjab Mental Health Authority under the Punjab Mental Health Ordinance, 2001.

The meeting highly appreciated the chief minister for making efforts to receive arrears of net hydro profit from the Centre. It paid a rich tribute to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the chief minister for speedy completion of energy projects.

In his address to the provincial cabinet, the chief minister said that the Punjab government had decided to set up a new gas power plant of 1,200 megawatt on its own.

"The project has been envisaged keeping in view the growing energy needs of the country, as well as the energy challenges of the future. A suitable piece of land would be identified near to the southern Punjab district of Rahim Yar Khan or Muzaffargarh for the establishment of gas power plant."

Like all other development projects, the energy project would also be completed in stipulated timeframe, he said, adding that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was striving hard for fast track completion of energy projects.

Referring to the Safe City Project, he said that the project would be launched from the provincial capital in the first place.

The chief minister said that the launch of e-stamp papers was yet another historic step of the Punjab government, which was facilitating the people.

"The launch of e-stamp papers has changed the archaic and obsolete system, which will help eradicate fraud, forgery and issuance of stamp papers in back dates," he maintained.

Provincial ministers, Advisers, special assistants, chief secretary and secretaries of departments concerned attended the meeting.

Separately, the chief minister Wednesday said that the work on clean drinking water project would be started this year.

Under the project, 37 tehsils of the southern Punjab will be provided clean drinking water.

Addressing a meeting held here in this connection, Shahbaz vowed to take every step to provide clean drinking water to the people.

"Progress on the project be made in an efficient manner in consultation with the foreign experts," he added.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/punjab/11-May-17/cabinet-okays-setting-up-of-1200mw-gas-power-plant

 

[Kabira]

This will be punjab government 4th gas power plant, 3 similar ones are already under construction. I like N league long term thinking. From now on Pakistan will not sit back and wait for load shedding monster to grow taller and taller. Every year more and more MW will be added to system to keep up with demand.

 

[Fledgingwings]

I have seen so many foundation stones during these 8 years and havent seen any significant power project being completed either by PPP or PMLN.Both are losers !

 

[Kabira]

I have seen so many foundation stones during these 8 years and havent seen any significant power project being completed either by PPP or PMLN.Both are losers !

N isn't like PPP. Other 3 gas power plants are already 80% completed.

 

[Zibago]

N isn't like PPP. Other 3 gas power plants are already 80% completed.

Kuch to 3 saal sey testing position mein hain opar sey dams par to itni sust ravi kay India ko ab ronay ki zarorat bhi nahi

 

[Chak Bamu]

Typical gestation period for such infrastructure projects is 4 years.

 

[Fledgingwings]

N isn't like PPP. Other 3 gas power plants are already 80% completed.

Ofcourse they,re not ! but There would have to be some improvement in power crisis which I havent witnessed in the last 4 years.

 

[bafxet]

For the first time renewable generation has overtake other forms of generating power I wonder why aren't they going for it especially solar-powered

 

[Kabira]

Ofcourse they,re not ! but There would have to be some improvement in power crisis which I havent witnessed in the last 4 years.

Because it take 5 years for plants and lines. This is why you keep adding more MW in to system every year instead of waiting for shortage to reach 7000MW and then decide to construct 15 power plants at the same time. And by the time these are condtructed demand have increased even more.

 

[ziaulislam]

This will be punjab government 4th gas power plant, 3 similar ones are already under construction. I like N league long term thinking. From now on Pakistan will not sit back and wait for load shedding monster to grow taller and taller. Every year more and more MW will be added to system to keep up with demand.

if gas prices go sky high every one will be screwed.

i would rather for medium term focus on small hydro projects like PPPP did with 3 khawar projects, they are able to produce sustainable power both in winter and summer. there are huge opportunities in KPK(atleast 4000mw pre feasibility reports are there) and can easily be distributed to load centers in punjab via 100-200km transmission lines.

in short term yes this is the right way to go.
also bare in mind for now coal and LNG are very much close in price but coal is not going to get expensive plus in future thoar coal can be used in mix even in current plants, gas we dont have ...

major issue Pakistan econmy is facing is current account deficit so game plan should be to reduce imports