News
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Country to go dark on equality basis* National Energy Conference decides to implement equal load shedding schedule in all four provinces
* Government offices to work five days a week
* All markets throughout country to close at 8pm except weekends
By Shabbir Sarwar
LAHORE: The National Energy Conference 2012 ended with little advancement towards the solution to the energy crisis. The conference was, however, able to build consensus among the provinces for equal load shedding in all parts of the country.
The main decisions taken at the daylong conference were announced by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani along with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar and others at a press conference at the CM’s Secretariat. The meeting decided to implement a five-day working week in all provinces, legislate against power theft, ensure closure of all markets at 8pm (except on weekends) and encourage provinces to generate power.
Admitting the uselessness of the daylight saving programme, the government has decided to have different office hours during winter and summer, hoping to save more energy this way. It will also cut power to billboards and replace regular bulbs with energy savers. To ensure smooth supply of power, additional gas will be provided to power companies. Gilani revealed that the government will draft an act for the prevention of power thefts. “Cases related to power thefts will be registered and immediate action will be taken against the culprits,” he said. To limit the use of energy by government offices, the conference participants decided to install prepaid meters in all federal and provincial government buildings. While replying to a question, the prime minister said that Punjab government’s complaint about discrimination against the province in gas and electricity load shedding will be addressed and load shedding will be carried out in all provinces on an equitable basis. He said that 700MW of electricity would be saved by observing a five-day working week. He said in order to provide relief to the poor segments of the country, free electricity units have been increased from 50 to 100. He said the provinces, after taking all stakeholders in confidence, would ensure closure of markets at 8pm except on Saturday. To a question about failure of allowing transportation of equipment of 50MW Nandipur project to Punjab government, the premier said that he had issued orders on this matter.
In his inaugural speech, Shahbaz Sharif presented a comprehensive roadmap for overcoming the current energy crisis. He said that a policy was formulated at the National Energy Conference held in Islamabad two years ago for overcoming power crisis, and Punjab fulfilled its responsibilities in this regard but the issue of circular debt has still not been resolved, and the debt has now reached a staggering Rs 400 billion. He said that Punjab government had presented its proposals in the last energy conference and important decisions were also taken on the occasion but the federal government failed in their implementation. He said had the decisions been implemented Pakistan would not have been facing the power crisis.
The chief minister further said that power generation plants showing better performance should be provided fuel on priority basis, adding that comprehensive reforms will have to be introduced in the country. He further said that 900MW of power could have been produced from Chichoki Maliyan and Nandipur hydel power stations but the Ministry of Law did not accept the sovereign guarantee due to which the Chinese company involved in the projects left the country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk