News
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Indo-Pak talks on electricity trade remain inconclusive* Second round of talks today
* Qamar says Pakistan wants early import of electricity to help bridge demand-supply gap
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: The future of electricity trade between Pakistan and India is likely to be on the dark side as the first round of negotiation between energy managers of the two countries remains inconclusive, sources said.
According to sources, determination of electricity tariff as well as terms and conditions of power trade could not be ascertained so far.
A four-member Indian delegation led by Independent Power Producers Association of India (IPPAI) Director General Harry Dhaul, currently on a two-day visit of Islamabad, met with power mangers led by Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar and discussed the electricity trade between the two countries. A senior official of the Ministry of Water and Power, on the condition of anonymity, told this scribe that the first round of negotiation between energy managers of both countries remained inconclusive. However, the Indian delegation today (Saturday) will meet the high-ups of the National Transmission Dispatch and Company (NTDC) and Central Power Purchase Agency (CCPA) to negotiate tariff as well as terms and conditions for export of 500MW though Amritsar to Lahore in the first phase.
The country has currently been facing power shortage because of a number of reasons, including a mismatch between hydel and thermal power generation, price hike of furnace oil and other fuels sourcing thermal power generation and as well as the severe shortage of natural gas.
To eliminate the ongoing power crisis the federal government has been working to import electricity from two neighbouring nations, India and Iran.
However, Islamabad and Delhi have yet to reach any conclusion, particularly in respect of electricity trade of 500MW through Amritsar to Lahore.
According to a communiqué issued by the Ministry of Water and Power, Qamar said that Pakistan was facing difficulties due to shortage of electricity and wanted early import of power from India to help bridge the demand-supply gap.
He said that the electricity trade between the two countries would enhance economic and bilateral relations, adding that it was Pakistan’s desire that the modalities, tariff and terms and conditions for import of power may be finalised at the earliest so that the project may be started shortly. Harry Dhaul said that India was interested in long-term relations with Pakistan and would export reliable electricity to Pakistan, adding that electricity trade is beneficial for both the countries.
During the meeting it was agreed that Pakistan and India would construct 45 kilometre 220KV transmission lines within six months after formal agreement in this respect.
An agreement would be for five years, which would be extendable for another five years or more.
The official said that the Ministry of Water and Power had already submitted a note of concern over import of 500MW electricity from bordering area of the Indian Punjab.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk