Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered timely completion of ongoing power projects to add 3390MW of electricity by 2016 and 8738MW by 2017 to the system. Sources said the Cabinet Committee on Energy presided over by the Prime Minister was briefed on the ongoing power generation projects. The meeting was said to be informed that from the CPEC project, additional generation of 1100MW in 2016 and 1650MW in 2017 is expected. Chashma Nuclear (C3 & C4) would add 340MW in 2016 and 340MW in 2017 while wind power projects will start producing 350MW in 2016 and 500MW in 2017. The government plans to add 1600MW to the system through gas-based projects at Gencos.
They added that the government hoped that hydel projects (Tarbela IV and 2 others) would also start generating 1679MW and LNG-based power plants 3600MW to the system in 2017. The Federal Secretary Water and Power briefed the Prime Minister about the completion timelines of different power projects to be completed in winter of 2016 and summer as well as winter 2017. The meeting was assured that 9090MW of additional electricity would be available to the national grid by the winter of 2017.
The Prime Minister directed Water and Power, Finance, Petroleum and Planning ministries for meeting the timelines of different ongoing power projects across the country and said he would monitor the progress on the projects on a regular basis. A significant addition of power to the national grid will not only minimise load-shedding in different parts of the country but will also contribute to economic growth and infrastructural development of the country, the Prime Minister stated.
The meeting was told that year 2015 remained the most stable as well as the best period for generation of power during the last ten years due to lowest line losses in terms of technicalities and recovery. There was a 5.8 percent reduction in the losses during the year due to better monitoring and robust strategy to eliminate corruption and leakages, the Secretary informed the meeting.
The Prime Minister was informed that a Rs 51 billion increase was noticed in recoveries while Rs 10 billion was saved due to a decrease in the line losses. Due to better generation cost monitoring, Rs 57 billion was saved, added Secretary Water and Power. The meeting was informed that fuel stocks in the country are in an excellent shape; peak generation of power was 17000MW during the last year as a result of better efficiency and management. The year 2015 was the only year that witnessed the start of facilitation to new IPPs that will generate 12000MW of electricity, the meeting was informed. Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and others.
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