News
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Government to offer incentives for investment in energy projects* Shahbaz Sharif promises to support investors
Staff Report
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that all out facilities and cooperation will be extended for investment in power generation projects of 1000 to 2000 megawatt for controlling power crisis and providing relief to the masses as soon as possible.
He was addressing a joint meeting of Railways, National Logistics Cell, investors and experts regarding the energy crisis. He said all options in Punjab will be seriously considered for overcoming energy crisis and solid measures would be taken expeditiously for this purpose. He said that there is a vast potential for generation of power from coal in Punjab and coal-based power generation projects will be fully encouraged.
Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique, Provincial Minister for Energy and Mineral Development Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan, Nishat Group chairman Mian Muhammad Mansha, Secretary Railways Arif Azeem, senior officials of NLC, Brig. Mushtaq and Brig. Masood as well as other officers were present.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that in view of the historic mandate given to Pakistan Muslim League-N by the masses, the first priority of the government is a solution to the energy crisis.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is determined that steps should be taken under a comprehensive strategy for generation of cheap electricity for overcoming power shortage being faced by the country. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government is committed to resolve energy problem and measures are being taken expeditiously at every level for this purpose,” he said.
He said that all possible steps would be taken for energy conservation and curbing the power and gas theft while indiscriminate action would be taken in this regard.
“Besides planning for setting up power generation projects of 50 megawatt each from bigasse, solar power and other alternative sources, coal-based projects for generation of electricity are also being considered and would be launched with the help of private sector under public-private partnership,” said the chief minister.
Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique while addressing the meeting said that the number of freight trains would be increased and all out facilities would be provided to the investors for transportation of imported coal for power generation projects. The chief minister also constituted a committee comprising Railways officials, investors and experts interested in setting up energy generation projects from coal.
The committee would consider the experiences of various countries regarding the projects for generation of power from coal, minimizing expenditure, feasibility of the projects and transportation and give a final shape to recommendations. Prominent industrialist and investor Muhammad Mansha informed the meeting that power generation projects from coal, instead of furnace oil, have been set up in cement factories and some other industries, since compared to thermal power, cheap electricity can be produced from coal.
Muhammad Mansha said that he would extend all out assistance to the railway authorities in formulating recommendations regarding transportation of coal imported in the country and implementation of coal-based power generation projects in Punjab from coal would also be considered. The NLC officials and other experts assured their full cooperation as well as presented proposals for the coal based power generation projects.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk