Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed confidence to overcome load shedding by 2018, with the production of additional 11,000 megawatts power through the under construction energy projects.

“It is a possibility and I am confident it will be done by 2018. Since 2014, we are supplying uninterrupted power and gas to industry and the same will be the case with domestic consumers,” he said while speaking in a private news channel programme.

When asked if there could be any technicalities in achieving this target, the minister said, “Even if in any worst scenario or calamity arises, which I do not expect, we will be able to produce 7,000 to 8,000MW power, thus bridging the gap between supply and demand,” he assured.

Asif said this year’s peak demand was noted at 22,000 to 23,000MW and if we calculate the estimated 3,000 to 4,000MW additional demand till 2018, even then we shall be able to overcome load shedding. He said two projects with the capacity of 3,600 and 1,300MW shall be operative in a single cycle before summer 2017 and would be functioning in the combined cycle by the start of 2018.

Answering a question about transportation of fuel for the plants, the minister said Pakistan Railways has ensured transportation of coal for the Sahiwal project. “Seeing the capacity of Railways that can only fulfill needs of Sahiwal plant, we did not take risk for coal plants at Rahimyar Khan or other sites.”

He said the Sahiwal plant was completing ahead of schedule and the Chinese government also appreciated the hard work and commitment of the Punjab government in this regard. When asked about capacity of transmission lines to carry the load, the minister said transmission line was already installed for 3,600MW capacity Balloki and Bahadurabad plants, while the Sahiwal plant was also close to the load centre. “Therefore, there is no question of transmission problems. We already have our system there and it will cater to the needs for additional load,” he added. The minister said with the passage of time there would also be improvement in transmission lines. “Our Jamshoro and Guddu transmission lines have capacity to carry the load of 1,320MW to be produced from Karachi plant while for Chashma and Neelum Jhelum plants, the system was already in place,” he added.

Answering a question whether the existence of circular debt was failure of the government, he rejected the impression and said, “It is not a failure. We need to analyze this phenomenon. This amount relates to state departments or the provinces.”