Power generation from Thar coal starts

Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir has revealed that electricity general from Thar coal-fired projects has started which is an important milestone in country’s history, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, Khurram Dastgir said 5,063MW of electricity has been added to the national grid over the last 15 months by the federal government.

The minister said this included 1980 megawatts from Thar coal, 720 megawatts from Karot Hydropower project, 1100 megawatts from K-3 nuclear power plant and 1263 megawatts from Haveli Bahadar Shah RLNG plant. He said criminal negligence was meted out to completion of these power projects by the previous government.

پاکستان کے عوام جو بھی حکومت منتخب کرینگے انکے لیے تمام بنیادی کام ہم کرکے جارہے ہیں تاکہ شمسی توانائی کو فوری طور پہ فائدہ اٹھایا جائے شمسی توانائی کے منصوبوں میں سرمایہ کاری کے لیے ہم اہنے دوست ممالک کو بھی دعوت دے رہے ہیں۔وفاقی وزیر توانائی خرم دستگیر خان pic.twitter.com/o0LFB7bg3t

— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 31, 2023

He said that it was because of enhancement in electricity generation capacity that the power supply situation during this summer season remained better when compared with the past year. He said they have also inaugurated a project for import of 100 megawatts of electricity from Iran for Gwadar. 

Khurram Dastgir said they have also operationalized Thar-Matiari transmission line for supply of electricity from Thar coal-fired projects.  He said work on three more transmission lines is in progress to improve the transmission system.

پاکستان میں بجلی کی پیداوار کے لیے یہ لحاظ سے اہم منصوبہ تھا جسے پچھلی حکومت نے تاخیر کا شکار کیا لیکن اب الحمدللہ شہبازشریف نے وہ چراغ جلا دیا ہے جو پچھلی غریب دشمن حکومت نے بجھا دیا تھا۔وفاقی وزیر توانائی خرم دستگیر خان pic.twitter.com/gMfJKiQ4rl

— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 31, 2023

The minister said the circular debt which was standing at record level of 2467 billion rupees in March last year, has been brought down by 157 billion rupees to 2310 billion rupees. He said they have stopped the increase in circular debt.

Khurram Dastgir further said the government is now focusing on renewable energy. He said solar power projects will be offered to the friendly countries in the Gulf countries this week for investment. He was confident that the solar projects will attract massive investment.

Responding to a question, he clarified that no increase has been made in the power tariff of those who use less than 200 units per month.