7/27/2019 Enhancing Inexpensive Power Capacity

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Race against time The PML-N government faces the uphill task of overcoming powershortages through enhancing power generation. What is more, the cost of production has to be brought down to fulfill the promise to provide affordable power toconsumers. The task has to be completed before 2017 as promised in the power policy though Shahbaz Sharif, who is actively associated with implementing the policy had vowed to end load shedding in two to three years. The desire to convertpower generation facilities from oil to coal, which is much cheaper, is understandable. Work on the coal-fired Gaddani Power Park and the Port Qasim power planthas to be initiated in earnest at the earliest and constantly monitored to avoid delays. It is equally important to pursue the Pak Iran gas pipeline project tohelp produce cheaper power. One wonders why the finance minister was apologeticin Washington on the issue by putting the responsibility for the project on theprevious government, which according to him gave sovereign guarantees to Iran that require damages in case of default. The government will have to overcome formidable problems to achieve self-sufficiency in power sector. The Gaddani PowerPark with 10 power plants put together having the capacity to produce 6,600MW electricity carries the estimated tab of around $14 billion. Four of its 10 powerplants are supposed to be installed by China provided Pakistan government sets up the first plant. The rest are to be offered to private sector. With the financial crunch faced by the country, the raising of funds for the project would be one problem, while luring domestic and foreign investors for the remaining five units another is another obstacle. A determined government will hopefully overcome both. One also hopes the Burj Power Corp would develop the first phase of the500MW power plant on Port Qasim in time. The completion of the 1,000-MW CASA pro

ject is predicated on peace in Afghanistan and a reining in of the terrorist activity in Pakistan. As things stand the Pakistani Taliban remain a big threat tothe project which is widely considered to be US sponsored. The finance ministeris upbeat about his achievements during his latest visit to the US. Washington has opposed setting up of coal-fired plants in the past as well as the Pak-Iran gas pipeline. One will have to wait and see if it has really changed its stance after talks with Ishaq Dar. - See more at: http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/10/15/comment/enhancing-inexpensive-power-capacity/#sthash.KvNjGMiu.dpuf