K-Electric is working on an investment plan of $3 billion across the value chain to further improve the reliability of power supply in the next 4 years, the company CEO Moonis Alvi said. Speaking at a meeting of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Moonis Alvi told that K-Electric is working to set up a 900 MW RLNG-based plant with an investment of around $650 million and a 700 MW coal-based power plant to meet Karachi's growing power demand. Simultaneously work is in process on the $450 million TP-1000 project to enhance transmission capacity, Alvi told.
Moonis said K-Electric adopted the policy of exempting industries from load-shedding and later in 2013 this initiative was included in national energy policy. He assured that industries were always on the top priority of K-Electric, and policies for new connection have been simplified.
He said due to delay in multi-year tariff finalization, the utility provider faced financial complications but despite that our performance was improved. Moonis Alvi also told that K-electric is capable to generate 120 MW from the garbage of Karachi. He directed concern officials to resolve all pertaining issues of Korangi Industrial Area and submit the report to him.
While responding to the questions of industrialists, he said due to depleted and flawed infrastructure of Karachi, some unfortunate incidents took place "we consider that serving Karachi safety of citizens as our basic duty but due to irresponsibility of concerned departments KE has to face problems," he added.
Chief Distribution Officer Amer Zia apprised KATI that the company is converting PMTs to Aerial Bundled Cables to reduce theft ratios. This collective investment has enabled K-Electric to exempt over 70 percent of the city from load-shed today including all industrial zones and strategic installations. The impact of recent rain spells in the city was also discussed in detail. Amer Zia apprised KATI that the poor state of Karachi's drainage system caused widespread water logging and forced the company to shut down areas in view of public safety.
He said every possible step to secure our distribution has been taken and we are taking legal action too. KATI president Sheikh Umer Rehan said without providing uninterrupted and low cost energy to the industries, economy could not be stabilized. He cited that Korangi Industrial Area adds PKR 600 million into national exchequer in form of taxes and duties and we expect from the government and utility providers to deal the area on priority bases.
He praised that response system of K-Electric had improved significantly however there is need to add more staff and vehicles to technical support facility. He also urged to establish an especial technical support facility only dedicated to the industries of Korangi.
Head of KATI's standing committee on K-electric, Danish Khan said if the industry would not get uninterrupted electricity this would harm our national economy. He said for the low cost of production we need low priced energy. KITE chairman & CEO Zubair Chhaya suggested that policies for new connections should be more liberalize and simplified.
Former president of KATI Masood Naqi was of view that there is need of an industry specific national energy policy. He said although the response system of KE has become better but there is a lot to do for uninterrupted supply.
K-Electric regional head (South) Faisal Karamat, External Affairs directors Asmer Naeem and Anbreen Malik, Ovais Munshi, Cluster Head Abdul Latif Mahesser, KATI SVP Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Syed Wajid Hussian, former presidents Syed Farrukh Mazhar , Akbar Farooqui and others also attended the meeting.
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