CHASHMA (Mianwali): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said on Friday that the government would end power load-shedding in the country by the end of the year, and complete the ongoing power projects by June next year.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the country’s fifth nuclear power plant (C-4), the prime minister said his government was committed to ending electricity load-shedding and would add 10,000MW to the national grid by the end of its term.
The 340MW Chashma-IV reactor, located some 250km southwest of Islamabad, is the fourth built as part of a collaboration between the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and China National Nuclear Corporation.
He said that C-4 was a step forward for the PAEC in achieving its target of adding 8,800MW to the national grid by the year 2020.
The prime minister said his government would meet the target, given by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to the PAEC.
Abbasi says load-shedding issue will be resolved by end of year
He said the C-4 project started injecting power into the national grid only after a period of eight months since the operationalisation of C-3, and termed it a matter of pride for the entire nation. The three power units of Chashma were providing 900MW of less expensive electricity, he added.
He said: “The power supply situation today is much better in the country as compared to few years back.”
The prime minister recalled that during the tenure of Nawaz Sharif Pakistan entered into an agreement with China for the construction of Chashma’s Unit One project and termed it the foundation for a strong Pakistan-China cooperation in civil nuclear power projects.
He said Pakistan had put in place a reliable nuclear power project and it was being ensured that all these projects fully complied with the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). All future nuclear power plants are also being constructed under the same guidelines, he added.
He said three nuclear power projects were already operational and they were providing less expensive electricity.
He pointed that it was a matter of satisfaction that K-2 and K-3 power plants in Karachi were being completed at a fast pace, and would soon start providing less expensive and clean energy.
He said Pakistan was proud to indigenously operate the plants under the Karachi Nuclear Power Project for four decades without any foreign assistance.
The prime minister lauded the contributions of the PAEC in power generation, health and agriculture. He said Pakistan earned precious foreign exchange through cotton crop, while 18 cancer hospitals were providing quality healthcare to people.
Mr Abbasi also appreciated cooperation of China in civil nuclear power generation projects and urged the Chinese companies to invest more in nuclear power projects.
“Our government has initiated large projects with China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and its benefits are having a trickledown effect,” he added.
He said progress was visible on projects of roads, Thar coal and Gwadar, while GDP has risen to over 5 per cent and hoped it would be 6 per cent next year.
The government, he said, was desirous of greater participation of the private sector in the CPEC projects.
He said the Chinese government had also showed its keen interest in injecting more funds in various projects.
PM Abbasi thanked the government of China, EXIM Bank of China and China Atomic Energy Commission for its support in making Pakistan self-sufficient in electricity.
The event was attended by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, PAEC Chairman Mohammad Naeem, Chinese Ambassador Sun We Dong, Strategic Plans Division DG Lt Gen Mazhar Naveed and Member Power PAEC Syed Yousaf Raza, representatives of Chinese companies and senior officials.
Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2017
