RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD ( 2009-01-07 04:33:26 ) :Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to arrange uninterrupted supply of oil and gas to the IPPs for optimal supply of power. He was chairing a high level meeting here Tuesday on energy situation and to review implementation of the decisions taken in the earlier meeting held with President Asif Ali Zardari on January 02.

This is the second high level meeting within a week to resolve the power crisis that has led to riots and protests in different parts of the country. Gilani directed the Water and Power ministry to ensure elimination of load-shedding by the end of this year and underlined the need of an integrated energy plan to meet the future energy needs on sustainable basis. The Prime Minister said that the fast track power projects both solicited and unsolicited should be established on priority.

The meeting was informed that during the last three days additional generation of 1800MW at peak was brought about. This was due to increased availability of oil and gas and that the generation of another 1100MW will be added within this week. Resultantly the deficit of power will be further reduced to about 2000MW.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the financial situation of the power sector. He directed Ministry of Finance to provide the requisite funds to optimise power generation and ensure payments to the fuel suppliers and IPPs as a special measure despite the financial constraints.

Those who attended the meeting included Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum Dr Asim Hussain, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqi, Secretary Finance, Secretary Petroleum, Secretary Water and Power, Managing Director, Pepco, Managing Director SNGPL and Managing Director SSGCL.



Copyright Business Recorder, 2009