Efforts being made to overcome power load-shedding, shortage

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Women Wing Sindh Information Secretary, Ms. Sharmila Farooqi, said on Saturday that the government was making hectic efforts to overcome power load-shedding and shortage in Karachi and other parts of the country.

In a statement here she pointed out that government was working on various electricity generation projects based on coal, hydel and solar systems so as to lead the country toward larger development and prosperity.

`The electricity is the only source of comfort and relief for people in hot weather, besides being major component of socio-economic development in country', she added.

Ms. Sharmila was of the view that the power sector in Pakistan, particularly in the province of Sindh, needs to be developed as the country is facing a bigger challenge of power load-shedding.

However, she added, the present government is rightly focusing on it as Pakistan and China have recently reached an agreement to generate 2,300 MW of electricity through wind and solar systems in Sindh and Punjab.

Sharmila informed that in view of President's recent visit to Moscow, leading Russian companies Gazprom, Zarubezhneftegaz and Inter Raoues had shown keen interest to develop energy sector and to contribute to the building of power generating facilities in Pakistan, while the President had also invited the Russian companies to invest in small scale five to ten power plants in Pakistan.

She said Pakistan and China had also agreed to further intensify cooperation in energy sector during the recent visit of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

`Chinese companies have completed survey in the country to kick start several projects, particularly in the energy sector. Chairman Three Gorges Corporation (TGC) Cao Guangjing at a meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani during his recent visit to China expressed his willingness to invest in hydro-power projects in Pakistan', she informed.

Sharmila said the present government had also shown much interest in developing electricity through coal reserves found in Thar. Sindh government and Engro Power Generation Limited had signed an agreement for mining and generating 600-1,000 mega watts power from Thar Coal fields on public-private-partnership basis, she said.

She said that work on eight different blocks of Thar coal allotted to various firms was in progress and power generation was expected soon, adding that the Thar coal power project would help overcome the power shortage in the country, particularly in Karachi.

Ms. Sharmila said that the power demand is rising fast in the country due to increase in the population. Oil prices are soaring and pushing the cost of power generation up in the country.

Hence, there is need to establish alternative energy projects like wind and solar power plants which are cheap.

She asked relevant authorities and all stakeholders to come up with concrete measures and adopt a pragmatic approach to tackle the prevailing challenge of load-shedding that has caused inconvenience to people and adversely affected the socio-economic development.

She said a German company was likely to install 50 mega watt solar energy plant in Thatta district which would help reduce power need of Sindh.

The government has also announced an incentive package for coal development.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011