News
Friday, June 07, 2013
Nawaz declares war on electricity crisis* PM orders immediate conversion of thermal power stations into coal's
* Says incompetent heads of power distribution companies will be removed
LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday vowed to take effective measures to utilise available resources to rid the country of crippling energy crisis.
Nawaz has decided to focus on coal energy after reviewing all available options and ground realities at a high-powered meeting on the issue. The meeting called at the state guest house was attended by Shahbaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Parvez Rasheed, renowned industrialist Mian Muhammad Mansha, CEOs of distribution companies, industrialists, technocrats related to energy sector, officials of the Ministry of Water and Power and some senior party leaders.
After taking input from the energy experts Nawaz ordered use of coal as a resource for the production of electricity to overcome the menace of load shedding. He also discussed electricity theft and termed it the major issue in the country. “We would make a commission soon to solve this issue on urgent bases,” he remarked. The energy experts told the meeting that Rs 1 billion subsidy was needed for oil on a daily basis to produce electricity. They stressed the use coal for power production, saying it is the only way to control the power crisis on an urgent bases.
Nawaz ordered the conversion of all power generation plants to coal to end loadshedding and to ensure provision of cheap electricity. The meeting decided to remove the head of WAPDA, PEPCO managing director and heads of distribution companies and replace them with competent officers to implement the orders immediately.
A plan regarding reduction in loadshedding duration on monthly basis was also presented to the prime minister. “I have to put in place such initiatives that keep industrial wheel and the fan of everyone’s home on the move,” said Nawaz. The energy sector is one of the major priorities of the PML-N government which would take all stakeholders on board to overcome the shortage, he maintained.
Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to determine the viability of all the electricity projects, besides estimating and evaluating the financial requirements for their implementation. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk