ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said on Saturday that all out efforts were being made to minimize power load-shedding as shortfall would remain around 2500 MW during the summer season.
Addressing a press conference, he said that all power generation units except two had attained full generation capacity which would help reduce duration of load-shedding in the country.
He said eight to nine different projects of 1200 MW were added to the national grid system during last two months and some power plants were on test running.
Qamar said the Chashma Power Plant-II, which was recently inaugurated by the prime minister, went out of order due to some technical fault and it would start supplying 300 MW to the national grid system in a few days.
He said that Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of power companies have been directed to disconnect electricity supply to all defaulters, including private and government departments.
He said that power companies had billions of rupees of outstanding dues against private and public sectors.
He said that Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has issued notices to the Prime Minister Secretariat, Pak Secretariat, Capital Development Authority and others to clear their out-standing dues for avoiding power supply disconnection.
He said that the Pakistan State Oil would be able to purchase oil for power generation units when these organizations and consumers would clear their dues in time.
The minister said that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has served notice on the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to resolve problems with employees amicably and ensure smooth power supply to the consumers.
Qamar said that the power companies would not be privatized rather they would be made efficient by inducting competent people.
He said that the Energy Summit would be held on May 31 and the decisions taken in last year's summit would be reviewed.
He added that tube-well pumps project was a successful programme, which would be extended across the country in order to save 1500 MW electricity.
Replying to a question, he said that NESPAK has prepared feasibility study for getting power supply from Iran. The feasibily study has been handed over to Iran, he added.
He said the project would cost $ 800 million and would take four years.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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