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Friday, August 02, 2013
US to help Pakistan overcome power crisis: KerryISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday that the US would extend all-out assistance to Pakistan to help it execute more power projects and overcome energy crisis.
He made these remarks during his visit to Islamabad Electric Supply Company’s (IESCO) grid station where he was briefed about USAID-funded Local Data Improvement Project.
Talking to the media, Kerry said, “We have added around 1,200 megawatts electricity in national grid of Pakistan. We will assist the country in more power projects to generate cheaper and affordable energy.”
Kerry said the US and Pakistan would work together to improve Pakistan’s energy sector as country’s economy is linked with it.
He said the US was eager to launch more power projects, which not only will open new job opportunities but also strengthen the country’s economy. He said under Kerry-Lugar Bill, Washington has already delivered $3.5 billion to Pakistan to help it in projects, especially relating to the power sector.
Kerry said his country was also providing technical assistance to improve Pakistan’s electricity distribution system. He said installation of smart meters at the electricity distribution companies under the USAID-funded project would help Pakistan reduce line losses and ensure efficient supply of electricity to the consumers.
He said smart metering system installed in the grid stations would help IESCO and eight other distribution companies around Pakistan to better anticipate and manage energy loads, allowing them to provide more people with electricity on a more reliable basis. “This system would help distribution companies that how much supply is coming in the transmission lines, what is the demand and how much power is being wasted,” Kerry said.
The system would improve the efficiency of the distribution companies, he said.
Presently USAID is working with the government of Pakistan to improve energy distribution.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said the energy crisis has crippled Pakistan’s economy during the last 10 years which has rendered many people jobless and closed many industries.
He said the country was facing a loss of “Rs 1,000 billion per annum” due to the energy crisis. He said the electricity generation has increased during the last few days due to the steps taken by the present government.
The minister said the generation has reached the record level of more than 16,000 megawatt due to payment of about Rs 500 billion circular debt. Acknowledging the assistance from the US in the energy sector, Khawaja Asif said the provision of smart meters by the USAID has helped in improving the transmission system and controlling unscheduled power outage. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk