WAPDA needs to work efficiently to overcome energy shortages in Pakistan: PM
Chairman WAPDA called on the Prime Minister today.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Muzammil Hussain called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad today (Thursday) and briefed him regarding progress of various ongoing hydropower projects in the country and assured that the ongoing hydropower projects will be completed within the set timelines.
He said that the ongoing mega hydropower projects would not only add significant megawatts of power to the national grid but would also prove to be a lifeline for the agriculture and industrial sectors in addition to generation of employment opportunities.
The Prime Minister said that the present government is determined to eliminate load shedding from the country.
Our aim is to provide sufficient as well as cheap electricity to the domestic consumers, he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that WAPDA needs to work efficiently to overcome energy shortages in Pakistan.
Generation of affordable and clean electricity will not only provide relief to the consumers, but building of water storages will also enable the country to fulfil its water requirements. WAPDA needs to expedite building of water reservoirs across the country which would certainly mitigate flood hazards as well, directed the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister directed the Chairman to fast track the developmental work on the ongoing projects and to further explore the huge hydropower generation potential for maximum utilisation to benefit the people of the country.
Recently, Nawaz Sharif was informed by the Ministry of Water and Power that nine power projects of over 1000 MWs including 330 MWs (Wind) and 680 MWs (Nuclear) are ready for inauguration.
The Prime Minister was also informed that two programmes; Mobile Meter Reading under the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (FESCO) and Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) as well as Customer Response System
under IESCO are also ready for inauguration.
The wind power projects which will be ready for inauguration by the Prime Minister by October this year include Yunus Energy (50 MWs), Metro Power (50 MWs), Gul Ahmed Energy (50 MWs), Master Energy (50 MWs), Tapal Energy (30 MWs), HydroChina Dawood (50 MWs) and Tanaga Generasi (50 MWs).
The nuclear power projects which would be ready for inauguration by October 2016 and March 2017, respectively, include Chashma 3 (340 MWs) and Chashma 4 (340 MWs).
The increased power generation would also contribute towards economic growth, employment generation, increased industrial activity and foreign investment.
