ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power on Tuesday was apprised that under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), power projects of 5,000 MW would be set alone in Sindh.
The committee which met here with Iqbal Zafar Jhagra in chair reviewed various public petitions submitted by citizens in the Senate regarding various issues, power load-shedding, reports on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government demands and detail briefing about Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
Secretary Water and Power Younis Daga apprised the committee that Thar Coal is future of Pakistan as it would fulfil the country’s energy demand. “The country’s energy security will depend on Thar Coal,” he said.
He said that the government was fully cognizant of Thar coal and was included in the CPEC.
He said that the Chinese financiers have also agreed to double the capacity of 660 MW power plant being set-up in Thar to 1320 MW.
Responding to query of Senator Taj Haider, he said that a separate power plant of 660 MW was also being set up with the assistance of UK based company at block 6.
He said that tenders have already been floated for laying of new transmission line to evacuate electricity from Thar Coal power projects.
He said that ground breaking of the transmission line was likely in next month.
Younis told the panel that a separate transmission line would also be laid to evacuate 4000 MW electricity. He said that the Pakistan would surplus energy by 2020.
Regarding ban on new wind and solar power projects, the secretary said that there were no ban on setting up wind or solar power projects.
However, owing to declining prices of solar panel and wind power generation equipments, the NEPRA was requested to rationalize wind and power tarrif in order to pass on benefit to the consumers.
Younis said that Power Generation Policy 2015 has already in-placed under which the provinces could generate and distribute electricity at their own besides regulating it.
Regarding new inductions in Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs), Iqbal Jhagra the committee should be apprised about new recruitment in these DISCOs.
Some committee members pointed out that merit and provincial quota was not observed in the recent recruitment.
Briefing the Committee, FESCO Chief Rashid Salim informed that over billing issue in the company has completely overcome as 100 per cent meter reading was being carried out through mobile phone picture.
Earlier, Senator Taj Haider apprised the committee that the Federal government has not yet provided sovereign guarantee to Thar coal power projects. He said the financial close of two Thar Coal Power Projects could not be achieved without the sovereign guarantee of the federal government.
The meeting was attended by Senators Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai, Nisar Muhammad, Maulana Atta ur Rehman, Taj Haider, Ahmed Hasan, Mukhtiar Ahemd Dhamrah and Nauman Wazir, Chairman WAPDA Zafar Mehemood and other senior officials.
APP
