Pak signs contract with Chinese firm for power project
The Pakistan government signed a contract with a Chinese firm for setting up of a power project as part of its plans to generate 2,200 MW within a year to cope with a crippling energy shortage in the country.
By PTI |
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Tuesday signed a contract with a Chinese firm for setting up of a power project as part of its plans to generate 2,200 MW within a year to cope with a crippling energy shortage in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony where the contract for the 525 MW Chichoki Malian combined cycle power project was signed, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said his government is committed to ensuring energy sufficiency with the least expenditure.
"The cornerstone of our government's policy is to ensure energy sufficiency in the country on least cost basis, which is essential for us to achieve high GDP growth and to ensure that the people are not subjected to load shedding," he said.
The Chichoki Malian power plant was approved by the government for fast-track implementation by China's Dongfang Electric Corporation. This plant will be located in a high power demand area.
Gillani said among his first priorities is to "redeem the alarming situation in the power sector, which has arisen due to non-addition of new generation over the past 10 years.
"The last major addition in power generation was carried out in 1994-96 under the then PPP government due to which 4,500 MW of electricity was added," he said.
The country now faced a challenging situation to bridge the power supply-demand gap in the shortest possible time.
In his first policy statement after securing a vote of confidence from the National Assembly last week, Gillani had said steps would be taken to generate an additional 2,200 MW within a year.
Gillani said the government will soon announce long term energy policy. He also called on the people, business and industry to achieve the target of reducing energy consumption by up to 15 per cent over the next year.
Speaking at the ceremony where the contract for the 525 MW Chichoki Malian combined cycle power project was signed, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani said his government is committed to ensuring energy sufficiency with the least expenditure.
"The cornerstone of our government's policy is to ensure energy sufficiency in the country on least cost basis, which is essential for us to achieve high GDP growth and to ensure that the people are not subjected to load shedding," he said.
The Chichoki Malian power plant was approved by the government for fast-track implementation by China's Dongfang Electric Corporation. This plant will be located in a high power demand area.
Gillani said among his first priorities is to "redeem the alarming situation in the power sector, which has arisen due to non-addition of new generation over the past 10 years.
"The last major addition in power generation was carried out in 1994-96 under the then PPP government due to which 4,500 MW of electricity was added," he said.
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The country now faced a challenging situation to bridge the power supply-demand gap in the shortest possible time.
In his first policy statement after securing a vote of confidence from the National Assembly last week, Gillani had said steps would be taken to generate an additional 2,200 MW within a year.
Gillani said the government will soon announce long term energy policy. He also called on the people, business and industry to achieve the target of reducing energy consumption by up to 15 per cent over the next year.
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