With reference to statements by the minister for water and power that we must get rental power plants in order to overcome the power crisis I have one question for him — but a bit of contextual background first: the peak demand for power in the summer was about 16,500MW with a shortfall of about 2,000MW. However, according to the Board of Investment’s website the installed capacity is 19,379MW — break-up is as follows: 14 hydel stations owned by WAPDA with 6,494MW, 14 thermal stations owned by WAPDA with total generating capacity of 4,835MW, four thermal stations owned by KESC with a capacity of 1,756MW, 16 IPPs with a generating capacity of 5,832MW and two nuclear power plants with a capacity of 462MW. Similarly according to Alternative Energy Development Board’s website the total installed capacity is 19,460MW — this includes some additional power from alternate sources.
Can the honourable minister please explain how come a country with at least 15 per cent additional installed capacity is unable to meet its peak summer demand for electricity? Why spend money on rental power plants when perhaps the answer lies in ensuring that the power plants that are already there should increase their generation? If this is due to the inefficiency or incompetence of officials in the power ministry or in WAPDA or PPIB or NTDC. we are yet to see anyone held accountable for the suffering faced by 170 million Pakistanis.
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=196060
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