ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar Thursday chaired a meeting of the sub-committee on energy constituted by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources and Khawaja Mohammed Asif, Federal Minister for Water and Power were also present.

The meeting mainly focussed the import of 600 mmcfd of LNG. This quantity will be divided between Sui Southern Gas (200mmcfd) and Sui Northern Gas (400mmcfd) for the production of around 2,800 MW of electricity on average when supplied to different power plants.

During the meeting, the import strategy was also discussed and it was decided that the power sector will be given priority.” As the power production will go up the average price for the consumer will come down and with the availability of LNG in the system, the domestic sector will not suffer and industry will thrive,” the finance minister said.

The sub-committee also decided that after the import of LNG, expensive diesel-run plants will only be used during the peak periods so as to save the people from inconvenience due to power outages.

The finance minister asked Khaqan Abbasi and Khawaja Asif to closely work together and share all information so as to avoid wrong estimates and other misconceptions. The decisions should be taken in the larger interest of the country, he added. Secretary Petroleum also shared the gas management plan with the participants to ensure maximum availability of gas to all key sectors.

Secretary Water and Power also discussed the plan from the viewpoint of minimising the load-shedding and lowering tariffs. The sub-committee shall continue its work on the proposals for LNG import and will soon present its proposals to the prime minister for approval.—PR