The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to get rid of the scourge of power load shedding has decided to embark upon the ambitious plan of complying hydro and solar power projects as well as approved a fund of Rs 10 billion for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (KPOGDCL) with comprehensive action plan for accelerating work on exploration of oil and gas in the province.
KP government has also purchased 2.5% shares in Pezu and Partai oil & gas fields initially whose ratio will be enhanced with increase in production. Similarly, decision has also been made to announce attractive incentives for large scale investment in hydel power generation and alternate energy resources at national and international levels. In this regard talks with Saudi and American companies have been started who intended to invest $2b in hydel generation sector.
Similarly, the hiring of consultancy firm to review matters relating to possible handing over of the control of WAPDA PESCO to the province by the federal government has started work on feasibility report negotiation would be started with the wherein federal government in light of this report to have control on it and provide uninterrupted power to the commercial and domestic consumers on much lesser rates.
A plan was also being pursued to attract large scale investment in hydropower and other alternative means of energy to the tune of Rs 12 trillion till the year 2025. The decisions were taken in the meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa department of Power & Energy held here with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair at Chief Minister's Secretariat Peshawar. Those who attended included Minister Energy & Power Mohammad Atif Khan, Secretary Energy & Power Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad, CEO PEDO Bahadar Shah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) KPOGDCL Raziuddin, Chief Planning Officer Zainullah Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Ishfaq Khan and other authorities concerned.
The Chief Minister directed the authorities of the recently established Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGDCL) for the best utilisation of the allocated resources to arrest the prevailing energy crisis, initiating hydropower projects and taking emergency measures for its timely completion. He said that such measures would not only help in speedy control over energy shortage in the province, but would also generate maximum economic and employment opportunities to put the people on the track of progress and prosperity.
He said that besides, hydel resources the Almighty Allah has blessed the province with precious oil, gas, coal and solar resources. He said that maximum exploration of these resources for the development of the province is among the top most priorities of the present PTI-led provincial government and for this purpose, he said, his government is burning mid nights and to achieve the set targets.
Pervez Khattak deplored that previous rulers in the province paid no attention for better utilisation of these precious resources that has plunged the province today in to severe energy crisis. The meeting decided that under first phase of the energy plan, the provincial government would establish 356 small hydel power stations at village and town levels in the province with cost of Rs 12 b whereas Rs 6.70 billion have been allocated for it.
For this purpose, he said, small community hydel power stations would be established on streams, canals and rivers near villages while oil, gas and solar resources would also be utilised for generating energy to get the local residents rid of the curse of load shedding. In next phase, he said, the huge hydel and thermal potentials would be used to establish big power stations for industrial purpose. The energy produced by these projects on big scales, he said, would be supplied to already present or newly established industrial estates at district and regional levels for the promotion of cottage and large industries, generate employment opportunities and boost economic activities in the province.
This plan was inaugurated through PTI chairman Imran Khan by laying foundation stone of 56KW Sakhra Lalkahoo micro hydel station in Tehsil Matta Swat on August 7 this year. It was revealed the CM will also lay foundation stones of 12 MW micro station at Karora Shangla, 10 MW at Jabori Mansehra by 1st week of November and 40 MW at Koto in Dir Lower. Pervez Khattak however took strong cognisance of undue delay in approval of PC-I of two crucial hydel generation projects of 69 MW Lawi Chitral and 84 MW Matiltan Swat.
He showed his acute concern that provincial govt has allocated Rs 46 billion for these important energy schemes but delaying only the PC-I for months and years would not only result in lapsing the amount but it also clearly indicated the non-co-operation of the federal government in overcoming the deepening energy crisis.
He lamented that federal government of PML-N remained in forefront of levelling continuous allegations against KP government of non-utilisation of development funds and lapse of money while a baseless and misleading white-paper was also published against PTI-led coalition govt but on the other hand the center and its planning commission failed to discharge the simple formality of approving the PC-I file of KP government that he said indicated the difference between words and actions of the federal govt. He while directing for pursuing this matter with center at high level said implement these two energy schemes could solve load-shedding problems here.
On this occasion the participants were in-depth briefed on objectives and powers of the setting up of the Apex Energy Committee, Business plan of the energy and power department, action plans of PHYDO in hydel generation and KPOGCL in Oil and Gas exploration sectors.
The meeting was told that Apex Committee on energy would work as policy making and implementing institution for overcoming the energy crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, exploration of Oil and gas, hydel power generation and alternate renewable energy means while PEDO (PHYDO) and KPOGCL would focus on productions in their respective areas. Its members of the Boards of Directors would be chosen from the private sector and would be given representation in the respective boards as professionals and experts.
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