ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has assured to fully support power sector reforms, energy efficiency and improvement and energy conservation programme in Pakistan.

The assurance was given by ADB Director Energy Rune Strom while talking to Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar here on Tuesday.

The ADB Director said that the bank was already providing financial assistance for power distribution enhancement project and would continue its support for the project in order to improve the energy efficiency.

Transmission and distribution system and energy loss reduction programme is also being funded by ADB for all the power distribution companies (Discos).

The bank is also taking up tube-well efficiency plan. The bank will provide financial assistance for free distribution of 30 million energy saver bulbs (CFLs) in the country.

He briefed the current status of the project and stated that the biding process for 20 million energy saver has been almost completed.

These energy savers will help reduce peaks hour demand over 1000 MW. He said that the bank will fully support the energy conservation initiatives of the government.

The Minister for Water and Power appreciated the role of ADB for improvement in energy sector and said that the support of the bank for energy efficiency programme will help save the energy and reduction in the transmission and distribution losses.

He asked the ADB to help in the tube-well efficiency programme by replacing existing motor pumps with new improved ones.

The Minister also asked for providing guarantee facility for wind power projects.

He also briefed the delegation regarding new energy sector improvement initiatives like Operation and Maintenance contract of generation companies (Gencos) through private sector and conversion of existing IPPs to cheaper fuels.

The ADB director also discussed current status of power sector reforms, energy efficiency programmes, central power purchasing agency, independence of Discos, and proposed amendments in the Nepra act. The Minister also assured that all the efforts will be made to timely complete the existing projects being funded by ADB.

The meeting was also attended by Secretary Imtiaz Kazi, MD NTDC and CEO AEDB.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011