Private sector to add 3,480MW by 2010

ISLAMABAD (APP) - The private sector will add a total of 3480 megawatt electricity in the national grid to overcome prevailing power crises in the country, said Minister for Water and Power Raja Parvez Ashraf here Saturday.

"A total of 2,380 MW will be added in the system by next year, while another 1,100 MW will be injected into the national grid the following year," said the minister while chairing the 77th meeting of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) said.

The minister said due to improper planning of the past government, the people are facing acute power shortages resulting in the menace of load-shedding, which is not only a nightmare to the common man, but is also creating a huge loss to the national economy. He said the government realizes the importance of the power sector, and that is why, soon after taking charge, the new government has been taking immediate measures to induct electricity into the system in the coming years.

The minister lauded the efforts of PPIB team for materializing the fast track initiative of the government, where an interest of around 3,000 MW was received during the competitive bidding of 1,500 MW fast track projects. He said the government adopted transparent process while shortlisting the companies for these project, adding that eight projects with a cumulative capacity of 1,366 MW will be commissioned in 2009-2010 to eliminate load shedding in the country by next year.

Raja Parvez Ashraf said that government believed in facilitating the investors, and does not want them to face any hurdles or delays during the processing of their projects.

He added in order to make electricity affordable, an energy mix is utmost necessary, and therefore we are stressing the use of indigenous resource like hydropower and our local coal at Thar, as well as imported coal.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Ahmad Waqar, Secretary Planning Commission Suhail Safdar, Acting Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources G.A. Sabri, Chairman WAPDA, Shakil Durrani and Managing Director PPIB Fayyaz Elahi, besides other senior government officials.