Prime Minister expresses displeasure over the duration of current load shedding schedule

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chaired 4th consecutive meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy during the month of April, here at PM House today.

Secretary Water & Power briefed the meeting on availability and utilization of idle IPPs & captive power plants. He also briefed on issues pertaining to upfront tariff by NEPRA and load management plan for the summer. He informed the meeting that power generation amounting to 866 MW has been restored to the system in the month of April and further 400 MW would be added by mid of May 2017. Minister Water & Power informed the meeting that power system constraints resolution programme would be completed by December 2017. Minister for Finance briefed the meeting on his meeting with President World Bank regarding funding of solar power projects in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister expressed displeasure over the duration of current load shedding schedule and stated that it is the responsibility of the government to provide relief to the masses.  ‘Anticipated planning has not been exercised by the relevant Ministries and their organizations for which responsibility must be fixed.’ added the Prime Minister.                                      
                                                                                                                                                  
The Prime Minister directed Secretary Water & Power to constitute a dedicated team for hourly monitoring of the power supply situation. He further directed that the team must report on monitoring of power transmission and distribution system as well on weekly basis.

The Prime Minister directed Secretary Water & Power, Secretary Finance and Secretary to PM to present a line of action for resolution of issues related to in-operational IPPs and present a report in two days.

The Prime Minister directed Ministry of Petroleum & Ministry of Water & Power to work out a balanced conversion plan of power generation plants from furnace oil to Re-gasified Liquid Natural Gas (RLNG) and coal as source and present the plan in next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy. This will help the government to further reduce the cost of electricity for all sectors.