Pakistan to generate 16,000MW of additional electricity by 2015: Khaleej Times

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has decided to generate 16,000MW of additional electricity by 2015, a new plan that requires needs $30 billion investment, said Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf.


Addressing a news conference here yesterday after the inaugural function of Intergovernmental Conference on Central Asia – South Asia Regional Electricity Market, the minister said the government would invest $10 billion for the additional capacity and generate another $20 billion through the private sector by providing enabling environment. He said the load shedding would come to an end by end of next year.

He said the government organised a roundtable conference with international investors recently in Washington that was attended by 30 leading global players of coal-based power generating companies. The government would soon hold international competitive bidding to set up coal-fired power plants in the country, he said.

Responding to a question he dispelled the impression that the World Bank had declined to finance Bhasha dam and added the construction work on the project would be initiated next year.

The minister said the import of 1000MW electricity from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Pakistna under the Central Asia – South Asia (CASA 1000) project would promote regional energy trade and lead to greater regional cooperation in economic and energy fields.

Responding to a question about security situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the import of electricity from central Asia, the minister said the project was in the economic interest of the neighbouring country and hence its people would ensure the project to become a reality. He said the law and order problem in Afghanistan would not hamper implementation of the project.

He said the import of 1000MW power to Pakistan form Central Asian states through Afghanistan will be a great milestone for the economic development of the member countries. The four nations are expected to sign on Monday an intergovernmental council agreement for import of electricity to Pakistan and Afghanistan from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

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