Govt fails to make 1,500MW 9 plants functional on time

LAHORE - The much-hyped nine thermal power projects of over 1,500 megawatt, announced by the Ministry of
Water and Power to be completed by June this year to narrow down the excessive power scarcity, are in a
complete state of neglect, as even not a single project could start its commercial generation.
Sources concerned said despite beating drums about the efficiency and speedy work to cater to the power
demand in the country, the ministry has aptly failed to set up thermal power plants within the stipulated period.
The sources said that to end loadshedding the government had planned to add 1,717MW power into the
national grid by the end of 2008-09 through 11 different projects in several phases, including nine projects of
1,502 megawatt, which had to start operations by June.
They said according to the plan the Atlas power plant (225MW) on Lahore-Sheikhupura Road and three rental
power plants including Rental Power Plant at Faisalabad (150MW), Rental Power Plant at Sahuwala (150MW)
and Rental Power Plant at Guddu (110MW) were to be completed in March 2009, but non of them appeared till
to date.
They said that installation work of the Rental Power Plant in Multan (192MW) was scheduled to end in April.
Likewise Rental Power Plant at Satiana Road (200MW) was due to complete in May, they added. They said that
two rental plants including Rental Plant at Ludewala (200MW) and Rental Plant at Quetta (200MW) was to
complete their installations in June. In the same way, they added, that Orient Tharmal CC at Balloki (75MW) was
to start its operation also in June, but this one could not start its commercial operation either.
Sources revealed that on May 17, 2007, over two years back, in a signing ceremony chaired by Liaqat Ali Jatoi,
the then Minister for Water & Power, Atlas Power Limited, had signed Engineering, Procurement & Construction
(EPC) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contracts for a 225 MW power plant with MAN Diesel SE
Germany & MAN Diesel North America, respectively. It was stated in the ceremony that this 225 MW power
plant which was the part of the governments fast track initiative, would be commissioned by March 2009.
Liaquat Jatoi told the ceremony the government was fully committed to extend every possible support to the
investors and project developers who were participating with them hand in hand to develop the power sector,
sources added. They said that the minister mentioned that several power projects were at matured stages and
expected around 1,200 MW in the national grid by the end of 2008.
But all his statements and promises proved just hollow-tall claims and lip service, sources added.
The sources said that again on August 28, 2007 the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) had initialled
Implementation Agreement (IA) with Atlas Power Limited (APL) for establishing a 225 MW power plant at
Lahore-Sheikhupura Road. In this meeting it was again declared that the power plant was targeted to start
commercial operations by March 2009, sources maintained. And now after a lapse of over two years, on June
15, talking about ongoing projects being completed in this year, the incumbent Federal Minister for Water and
Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf said that two projects namely Orient Power Project of 225 MW and Atlas Power
Project of 225 MW are scheduled to start functioning within 2 weeks- by June 30.
The incumbent minister like his predecessor also repeated the lofty statements, saying his government has
taken all possible steps to complete ongoing projects of thermal, hydro, rental and coal power generation
schemes aimed at controlling loadshedding by enhancing power generation to overcome the deficit of electricity
in the country, sources pointed out.
It is to be noted that on Monday (June 29), Pepco MD Tahir Basharat Cheema yet again extended the date of
completion of some of these projects, saying that new power plants including Atlas, Orient and Technoone would
start contributing 600 MW to the system within a period of 10 days.
When contacted by The Nation, a ministry official confirmed the in-completion of the all said nine power projects.
He however made it clear that Atlas, Orient and Technoone have started test generation and would begin their
power production on commercial basis soon.