Govt rules out use of imported fuel in future power plants

Published September 15, 2022
Power Minister Khurram Dastgir addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. — DawnNewsTV/File
Power Minister Khurram Dastgir addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. — DawnNewsTV/File

ISLAMABAD: The government will not opt for any new power project run on expensive imported fuel in the future, Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir declared on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said that the foundations for the provision of inexpensive electricity under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were being laid by the government, adding that a proposed solar energy project would be completed as soon as possible.

He said that instead of relying on expensive imported fuel for generation of electricity, the government had decided to “optimally utilise indigenous sources of energy”, adding that “no new power project would be set up [in the country] based on imported fuel in future”.

From now, all new power projects would be set up using local resources, such as wind, solar, hydel, nuclear and Thar coal, he said Shifting the entire power generation infrastructure to indigenous sources would not only help decrease the burden on the exchequer, but would also make electricity more affordable, he said.

Minister announces intent to tap indigenous options, including solar, wind, hydel, Thar coal and nuclear power

Solar projects with a 1MW to 4MW capacity would be set up in rural areas and government buildings would also switch over to solar energy. He said both local and foreign investors had shown interest in investing in solar projects.

He pointed out that solar energy would also help control environmental pollution.

The minister said coal and oil prices had witnessed sharp increase of 300-400 per cent in international market during the current year. “Consumers cannot afford such hike,” he noted.

Currently, he said, the government is working on a number of projects which would add 2,000MW to the national grid by next year.

Mr Dastgir said prices of solar and wind energy were around 50-60 per cent lower than other fuel, adding that solar projects of 600MW would be placed before investors and awarded to the lowest bidder.

He said Lahore-Matiari transmission line had been operationalised and new projects would be set up where transmission line is available.

He said it had also been decided to convert expensive power projects, based on imported costly fuel, to alternative local fuel.

The minister said work would soon begin on wind power projects, adding that hydel projects had already been expedited.

The Karot project started its production in June, while 1,320MW Shanghai Thar coal project would start generation by end of this year, he added.

The minister said subsidy being provided to consumers using 200-300 units under fuel cost adjustment would benefit 75 per cent of consumers.

Coming down hard on the previous government, he said the incumbent government had inherited Rs2,468 billion circular debt and Rs5,600bn budget deficit.

The present government has reduced the circular debt by Rs258bn during the last three months, he claimed.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2022

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Peak of success
06 Oct, 2024

Peak of success

IT started with the ascent of Nanga Parbat in 2017 and ended with the summit of Tibet’s Shishapangma on Thursday....
Indian visitor
06 Oct, 2024

Indian visitor

AMONGST the host of foreign dignitaries expected to fly into Islamabad for the SCO Council of Heads of Government...
Violence once again
Updated 06 Oct, 2024

Violence once again

The warring sides must rein in their worst impulses and prioritise the nation’s well-being over short-term gains.
Controversial timing
Updated 05 Oct, 2024

Controversial timing

While the judgment undoes a past wrong, it risks being perceived as enabling a myopic political agenda.
ML-1’s prospects
05 Oct, 2024

ML-1’s prospects

ONE of the signature projects envisaged under the CPEC umbrella is the Mainline-1 railway scheme, which is yet to ...
No breathing space
05 Oct, 2024

No breathing space

THIS is the time of the year when city dwellers across Punjab start choking on toxic air. Soon the harmful air will...