Indigenous resources be given priority to reduce reliance on imported fuels: Khusro Bakhtyar

Sep 20, 2019: Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar Friday said the indigenous resources should be given priority in future energy mix to reduce reliance on imported fuels.

He said integrated development of power and petroleum, natural gas and coal sectors was of utmost importance for efficient future energy planning.

The minister was Chairing the third meeting of Steering Committee on Integrated Energy Planning (IEP).

The meeting was attended by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Dr Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, members steering committee including power and petroleum secretaries, representatives from the United States Department of Energy, senior officials from Economic Affairs Division and planning ministry.

The minister stressed the need for taking provinces on-board on the IEP process and giving them representation in steering committee to ensure coordinated institutional setup for national energy planning.

He said incremental growth for electric vehicles should also be factored-in and their electricity demand be analyzed.

Khusru Bakhtyar highlighted the importance of capacity building of Planning Commission as well as line ministries.

He endorsed the analysis presented by representatives of USDOE and was also hopeful that in future more elaborated analysis would be made once IEP structure was fully in place.

The steering committee approved an institutional structure for ongoing IEP efforts whereby an energy planning and resource center will be established in Planning Commission.

APP