News
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Rs 10bn released for power generation* Fund released for supply of fuel to thermal power plants
* Shortfall drops to 3,900MW
* 30 injured in load shedding protest in Mirpur
ISLAMABAD/MIRPUR/ LAHORE: In compliance with the instructions of the caretaker prime minister an amount of Rs 10 billion has been released to the Ministry of Water and Power for supply of fuel to the thermal power plants.
Adviser on Finance Dr Shahid Amjad Chaudhry said that the remaining package approved by the prime minister would be implemented strictly in accordance with his instructions and on schedule. The finance adviser was briefing Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso at a high-level meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House to review the overall energy situation in the country. The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to complete without delay all formalities pertaining to generation and production of 56.4MW from the wind power project installed by Zorlu Energy Group, a Turkish Company, at Jhampir. He said it should be connected to the national grid within 48 hours.
Khoso observed that the addition of 56.4MW to the national grid was a welcome development, especially at a time when the country requires more electricity to meet its demand. He hoped that the addition of additional power to the national grid would provide relief to the people. HESCO CEO Muzaffar Abbasi informed the meeting that transmission lines had been laid and were ready to transmit electricity from the wind power project to the national grid. Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Babur Hizlan who met the prime minister on Friday had told him that the windmill project was ready for energisation. The meeting was attended by the senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the ministries of finance and water and power.
The total power shortfall faced by the country has declined to 3900MW with the improvement in weather, leading to reduction in power outages. The total demand for power has come down after the recent rains in various parts of the country. According to latest statistics, the total power supply is 10,900MW against the total demand of 14,800MW, hence the deficit has shrunk to 3,900MW.
Meanwhile, at least 30 people, including nine policemen, were injured when police tried to disperse an anti-loadshedding protest at Mirpur-Mangla Road on Monday. An unruly mob demonstrating against the outages attempted to besiege the Mangla Dam Power House. The protest was being carried out against 18-hour unscheduled loadshedding in the district which has the second largest reservoir of the country, Mangla Dam. The protesters were also demanding immediate complete exemption from loadshedding for the district in recognition of the sacrifices of the local population for the construction of the Mangla Dam. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk