Chinese group signs deal with Private Power and Infrastructure Board to set up two coal power plants of 1320 MW at Gadani

Islamabad, April 10, 2014 (PPI-OT): A memorandum of understanding has been signed today in the Ministry of Water and Power between China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) and Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) for setting up of two coal based power plants of 660 MW each at Gaddani (Balochistan at an estimated cost of US 2 billion dollars.

Mr. LI KAN General Manager (CMEC) and Mr. N.A. Zuberi, MD PPIB signed the MoU on their respective sides. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, MoS, Abid Sher Ali, Secretary Water and Power.

Other senior officials of the government were also present on the occasion. While talking to the media, the Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif said that the government has signed MoUs with the foreign investors for setting up of 10 power projects of 6600 MW capacity at Gaddani as per plan.

He said that upon completion, these projects will prove to be mega achievement of the government for eliminating the menace of load shedding from Pakistan He said that during last one year the foreign investment has increased which shows their confidence on the policies of the present government.

Welcoming the CMEC, he paid tribute to China for its assistance for Pakistan and said that Pak-China relations are very strong and China has always assisted Pakistan, and always played a positive role in any crises situation.

He told the media that 2250 MW additional electricity will be added in the system within two months. There was no unscheduled load shedding in the country for the last many months. However, 6 to 8 hours load shedding is being carried out in the cities and rural areas.

He stressed the need for energy conservation and asked the consumers to pay their bills timely and to counter power theft. He said that government will provide relief to the areas where bills are paid promptly.

All those feeders having line losses due to power theft would have to face more load shedding and even their transformers would be removed. To a question, he said that recovery has been increased in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to the same period last year. He also said that PESCO has recovered Rs 1.33 billion in March by controlling power theft.

For more information, contact:
Private Power and Infrastructure Board
50 Nazimuddin Road,
F7/4, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92 (51) 9100118-129
Fax: +92 (51) 9100131, +92 (51) 9100132
Email: ppib@ppib.gov.pk