Ministry of Water and Power has stated to PM Nawaz Sharif that 9 power projects are ready for inauguration this October.
The two programs, Mobile Meter Reading under the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (FESCO) and Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) are ready to be launched. Not only that but Customer Response System under IESCO is also ready for the market.
There are 9 projects that are ready to be inaugurated, as per the concerned Ministry. Collectively, these 9 power projects boast a power generation capacity of over 1000 MWs, including 330 MWs (Wind) and 680 MWs (Nuclear).
The wind power projects include:
The nuclear projects include Chashma 3 (340 MWs) and Chashma 4 (340 MWs).
As the names suggest, most of the power projects are private but will be selling electricity to the government.
The Prime Minister was also notified on progress for the transmission line project. It includes 250 kms 500kV D/C T/L from Engro Thar – Matiari and Two Line Bays at Matiari Switching Station.
Lots from the transmission line will be divided into two categories; Lot-I (110 km) and Lot-II (140 km) on December 9, 2015 and June 3, 2016, respectively.
Similar to transmission line project, Port Qasim-Matiari Transmission Line project is also categorized in two categories (phases); Phase-I: 45 km 500kV T/L Port Qasim-Hub Jamshoro T/L CCT-I and Phase-II: 135 km 500kV Hub Jamshoro T/L – 500KV Matiari.
The initiative to resolve energy crisis was boosted after PM Nawaz chaired the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy where he highlighted the importance and need to have a functional system which ensures the elimination of load-shedding.
He claimed in the meeting that, “The government’s ultimate mission is to raise the living standard of the common man and all the projects of energy, economy and infrastructure sectors are people-oriented.”
“The government is pursuing development agenda simultaneously for creation of economic activities and generation of employment opportunities leading to reduction in poverty”, he added.
Despite all this, the government’s own projects have added little to the national grid over the past three odd years. The ministry for power really needs to speed up as the lack of proper management has already cost billions to the national exchequer and still hasn’t contributed much.
