Turkmenistan wants to help in energy sector
ISLAMABAD (INP): Turkmenistan has abundant natural gas resources and is interested to help Pakistan in energy sector for improving its economy and bringing the two countries further closer. These remarks were made by Atadjan N Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan in Pakistan, during a meeting with business leaders at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI). He also informed that Turkmenistan was already supplying gas to Iran and China as it has a 7500km gas pipeline with China, which was constructed within 18months and also wants to help Pakistan in overcoming energy crisis.
The Ambassador said that Turkmenistan has 1trillion cubic meters of gas reserves and contracting a pipeline up to its boarder so that neighbouring countries could take advantage of these huge reserves as Turkmenistan is already implementing the friendly foreign policy for its neighbouring states.
While commenting upon the importance of TAPI project he said that this project is important for the whole region as it would ensure sustainable transit of energy from Turkmenistan to Pakistan as well as to Afghanistan and India. Atadjan suggested establishing Pakistan Business Council in Ashkhabad as well as Turkmenistan Business Council in Islamabad which would bring businessmen of both the countries closer to each other. 
In his welcome address, ZafarBakhtawari, President ICCI, said that Pakistan consider Turkmenistan as the most important country of Central Asia and Pakistan is keen to strengthen its cooperation with Turkmenistan, especially in energy field to mitigate the adverse effects of energy crisis on its economy.
He termed TAPI pipeline as a peace pipeline because it will contribute in promoting peace in this region. He cited the example of China-Turkmenistan gas pipeline project which was completed within short span of time and said that Pakistan-Turkmenistan gas pipeline is only 1600km which should also be completed on war footing basis that would benefit the entire region of South Asia.
Bakhtawari also underlined the need to establish direct air link between Islamabad and Ashkhabad and suggested that Turkish Airline could help in this regard by staring a flight from Istanbul-Ashkhabad-Islamabad which would establish direct air link between Pakistan and Turkmenistan. 
He said that both the sides must ensure liberal visa policy to enable the businessmen get visa easily and meet each other which is imperative to boost trade ties between the two countries as there is enough potential in various fields between the two countries to increase trade.
ICCI President also lauded the role of Behram Khan who was a great mentor of Turkmenistan, who had played very important role in the mentorship of Mughal dynasty in the sub-continent. He also informed the Ambassador that ICCI have planned to host a meeting of ECO Capital Chambers Conference in Islamabad with the aim to promote mutually beneficial relation between Pakistan and ECO countries.







ISLAMABAD  - Federal Minister for Water and Power, Dr Musadik Malik has said that the matters related to alternative energy projects should be finalized as early as possible so that the projects are completed without any further delay.
He made these directions while presiding over a meeting of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) held here on Thursday. He said to bridge the gap between demand and supply and cheaper generation is top priority of the government and various steps are being taken in this respect, the Minister said.
He was of the views that “we should make such policies providing level-playing field to the investors to attract them in all the sub sectors of the power sector”. He said that the role of the regulator is very important while determining the tariff for investors. The Minister also asked AEDB to complete the procedure for alternative energy projects and provide investors one window facility. He said that during last one month 2700 MW has been added in the system by making fuel and gas arrangements.
Earlier, the meeting was informed that 256 MW wind projects to be completed by September 2014. One wind project of 50 MW has started generation while another 56 MW would start generation in July this year.  The meeting was also briefed that upfront tariff has been given to the bagasse based projects under the new co-generation policy incentives approved by the government. The meeting was also given detailed briefing by the Nepra on the upfront tariff recently announced for fast track wind power projects. The NTDC was asked to make a presentation shortly on the planning for setting up of grid stations and transmission lines for improvement the system and to connect the generation from wind power projects to national grid.