900 MW Tarbela extension project to commence soon: PEPCO.

ISLAMABAD, May 09, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Managing Director Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Tahir Basharat Cheema on Saturday said that feasibility study of Tarbela IV extension project has been completed and the development work will be started soon to generate 900 MW electricity. Addressing a press conference, the MD PEPCO said that an estimated cost of the project is $1.2 billion while feasibility reports of 740 MW Munda Hydro power project and 840 MW Suki Kenari have also been prepared and development work on projects will start soon. He said development work on 4,500 Diamer-Bhasha Dam will also be started in May next year with estimated cost of $ 9.8 billion while work will be started on 1,100 MW Kohala Project with estimated cost of $ 1.7 billion. He said the government was also ready to start work on Thar Coal based project of overall capacity of 6,000 MW with estimated cost of $ 7.2 billion. He said 225 MW Atlas Power Project will start production by end of this month while Orient power project will start in June this year to generate 225 MW. Tahir Basharat Cheema said overall 3,060 MW electricity will be generated by end of this year which will help in improving the power situation and there will be no load shedding after 2009. He said out of total electricity to be generated during year 2009 around 1,542 MW electricity from rental projects while 1,519 MW will be generated by independent power producers (IPPs). He added 800 MW additional power is also likely from captive power plant. He said the government is committed to developing indigenous resources to produce un-interrupted electricity at affordable rate to country people. He said in year 2010 around 300 MW electricity will be generated through rehabilitation of GENCOs plants while 502 MW will be added in system in next year through hydropower in public sector. He said 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum project will start production in 2015 alongwith other projects which are in pipeline. Tahir Cheema said the government has fixed the target of installation of minimum 9,700 MW electricity through wind and solar energy by the year 2030. He added 4,000 homes in over 70 remote, off-grid villages have been electrified while 300 villages in Balochistan are being electrified through alternative energy. He said overall 7,784 villages will be electrified. He said 50 MW solar thermal power plant will also be set up in the public sector. He said there is estimated potential of over 200 MW of electricity generation through waste in major cities of the country while current installed capacity is 35 MW. He said the government has formulated power sector strategy to meet the countrys energy needs and underpin high levels of economic growth. He added the strategy is based on principles included affordability, energy security and financial viability with strategic approaches like involving private sector, diversifying energy mix, fostering regional approach and developing indigenous resources. He said the company is working to address challenges like high system losses besides improving recovery campaigns particularly in selected areas.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)