ID :
118119
Thu, 04/22/2010 - 17:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/118119
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Pakistani should buy electricity from Iran: Economist
Islamabad, April 22, IRNA - A distinguished Pakistani economist Qaiser Bengali said on Thursday that Pakistan should purchase electricity from Iran especially at a time when the whole country is suffering from load shedding.
However, he added that the shortfall of electricity is causing heavy losses to the economy of the country.
“I have no information that Pakistan government is facing any external pressure regarding purchase of electricity from Iran”, he said in an exclusive interview with IRNA.
“Pakistan should buy Iranian electricity if they offer good terms”, he made it clear.
Earlier Iran had offered Pakistan 2200 MW electricity at 3 times cheaper rates compared to those of RPPs.
Iran is exporting power to Turkey, Armenia and Afghanistan and its price is immensely attractive for Pakistan .
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri had mentioned in an interview that he held a number of meetings with the officials of Water and Power Ministry and PEPCO but so far no solid progress has been made in this regard.
Expressing his views, Qaiser Bengali said that power shortage in the country has now risen to about 4000 MW, which will cause 12 to 18 hours of prolonged load shedding specially with the onset of simmering summer season.
Currently, the demand for electricity has climbed to 11,500 MW but present total power generation is in the tune of 8,500 MW.
There has been drop of water level in Tarbela Dam and Mangla dams, because of which the hydel power generation is down to 700 MW only.
Qaiser Bengali said that the shortfall of power is causing heavy losses to the economy of the country.
“But I am hopeful that the steps government is taking in this regard would solve the problem”, he opined.
It is reported that the federal and provincial governments have agreed on two weekly off days for six months, advancing clocks by an hour, staggered industrial closure for one day a week, shutting of businesses at sunset, partial diversion of gas from industry to power generation and payment of Rs116 billion to power companies to minimise energy crisis.
In the two-day energy summit it is also agreed to speed up implementation of 1125MW of already approved rental power projects (RPPs) and fast-track completion of another 2100MW of independent power projects (IPPs) within eight months.
Earlier the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had asked all provincial governments and energy-related ministries and organisations to work out details of plans and file their versions of a strategy with newly-constituted subcommittees to overcome the power crisis.
Protests country-wide are going on. These protests are right now dispersed and not well coordinated. But this is just the start of the summer and of these protests. Rest assured, as the summer will be getting more scorching, the load shedding will increase and it would be very soon and the protests will become violent and then eventually out of control.
Qaiser Bengali said that the impacts of the energy crises will be felt for long time. “Long run policy measures are required to deal with the crisis”, he opined.
Qaiser Bengali is one of the most distinguished economists of Pakistan . Qaiser has headed the institutions like Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC) and Karachi and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad . He remained associated as a Professor with Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC), University./end
However, he added that the shortfall of electricity is causing heavy losses to the economy of the country.
“I have no information that Pakistan government is facing any external pressure regarding purchase of electricity from Iran”, he said in an exclusive interview with IRNA.
“Pakistan should buy Iranian electricity if they offer good terms”, he made it clear.
Earlier Iran had offered Pakistan 2200 MW electricity at 3 times cheaper rates compared to those of RPPs.
Iran is exporting power to Turkey, Armenia and Afghanistan and its price is immensely attractive for Pakistan .
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashallah Shakeri had mentioned in an interview that he held a number of meetings with the officials of Water and Power Ministry and PEPCO but so far no solid progress has been made in this regard.
Expressing his views, Qaiser Bengali said that power shortage in the country has now risen to about 4000 MW, which will cause 12 to 18 hours of prolonged load shedding specially with the onset of simmering summer season.
Currently, the demand for electricity has climbed to 11,500 MW but present total power generation is in the tune of 8,500 MW.
There has been drop of water level in Tarbela Dam and Mangla dams, because of which the hydel power generation is down to 700 MW only.
Qaiser Bengali said that the shortfall of power is causing heavy losses to the economy of the country.
“But I am hopeful that the steps government is taking in this regard would solve the problem”, he opined.
It is reported that the federal and provincial governments have agreed on two weekly off days for six months, advancing clocks by an hour, staggered industrial closure for one day a week, shutting of businesses at sunset, partial diversion of gas from industry to power generation and payment of Rs116 billion to power companies to minimise energy crisis.
In the two-day energy summit it is also agreed to speed up implementation of 1125MW of already approved rental power projects (RPPs) and fast-track completion of another 2100MW of independent power projects (IPPs) within eight months.
Earlier the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had asked all provincial governments and energy-related ministries and organisations to work out details of plans and file their versions of a strategy with newly-constituted subcommittees to overcome the power crisis.
Protests country-wide are going on. These protests are right now dispersed and not well coordinated. But this is just the start of the summer and of these protests. Rest assured, as the summer will be getting more scorching, the load shedding will increase and it would be very soon and the protests will become violent and then eventually out of control.
Qaiser Bengali said that the impacts of the energy crises will be felt for long time. “Long run policy measures are required to deal with the crisis”, he opined.
Qaiser Bengali is one of the most distinguished economists of Pakistan . Qaiser has headed the institutions like Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC) and Karachi and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Islamabad . He remained associated as a Professor with Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC), University./end
