PESHAWAR: The provincial energy department contributing Rs49 billion per annum to the provincial kitty which is the maximum contribution by any department in the province.

This was stated to caretaker Minister for Energy, Electricity and Public Health Engineering Department Haji Fazal Elahi Khan during a comprehensive briefing by CEO KPOGCL Engr. Razi ud din, Chief Executive Officer PEDO Engr. Zainullah Khan, GM Hydel Power PEDO Engr. Bahadar Shah, and Deputy Secretary Department of Energy Javed Ali.

The KP energy department was working on development of hydel power generation, promotion of alternate energy sources, oil and gas and resolving problems of the electricity consumers.

PEDO, an attached department of Energy Department, the briefing was told generating 124Mega Watt electricity which was giving billions of rupees income to the provincial exchequer. Moreover, six hydel power stations were in the process of completion in the KP which will add up 243MW electricity to the National Grid.

The PEDO with the collaboration of private sector, he said was engaged in construction of five solar energy projects which on completion will generate 203.5MW electricity.

The briefing was informed that transmission line was being laid to utilize the 1500MW electricity generated from various hydel power projects in Chitral district.

The meeting was told that the KP was endowed with 1.1 billion barrel oil and 16 trillion cubic feet gas deposits which could earn around Rs100 billion annual incomes for the province.

The KPOGCL was working on various projects of exploring oil and gas deposits in the province and has started work on Lucky block in Lakki Marwat District.

The Minister for Energy Development Fazal Elahi Khan expressed satisfaction over the energy projects underway in the province. He directed the officials of the department to cancel the energy projects which have not yet been started or its agreement have expired.

The Minister regretted that the Pesco was not providing 13.5pc due quota of electricity to the KP as against its total consumption of 2800MW.

He said that potential of the energy sector available could be utilized in elimination of unemployment and strengthening economic base of the KP. He called for early ending to the massive power outages in the province.

He underscored the need for laying transmission lines by the KP government itself in order to get rid of the monopoly of the Pesco.