MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Water and Power’s poor performance has reportedly shaken the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

During a recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) presided over by the Prime Minister, it was felt that insufficient capacity of transmission and distribution system would mar the efforts of the government to resolve the energy crisis.

The sources said, while updating the progress on Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project, Managing Director, NTDC informed the meeting that it was the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) project in the country, being constructed by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co, Ltd (CET)/ State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) under the CPEC program. The transmission line would evacuate 4,000 MW electricity from Port Qasim coal project, Hubco coal project, Engro Thar coal project, SSRL (Thar) coal project. He further revealed that the Implementation Agreement (IA) and Transmission Service Agreement (TSA) of the project had been finalised and would be submitted soon to the ECC for approval. The Chinese contractor had agreed to start construction of the project before the financial close to achieve COD in October/ November, 2009.

The Prime Minister observed that Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line project had already been delayed considerably; it should have been completed well before the addition of new generation in the national grid.

The Managing Director NTDC stated that the delay occurred due to a dispute over tariff determination by Nepra. Moreover, since the projects in Thar are also delayed, early completion of line would have entailed capacity charges. Synchronization of HVDC line with COD of power plants is a desirable goal.

Secretary to Prime Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad was of the view that the main challenge in the energy sector was transmission and distribution capacity to fully utilize additional generation in the system. There was a dire need to complete transmission line projects as early as possible for evacuation of generation to be added through construction of new power plants. The Prime Minister directed Ministry of Water and Power to complete the Matiari-Lahore Transm-ission Line project within the given time line.

Secretary to Prime Minister emphasized enhancement of existing capacity of Discos to utilize power generation to be added through construction of new power plants. General Manager, National Power Control Centre (NPCC) informed the meeting that the capacity of Discos was being enhanced through installation of new transformers to cope with the newly added generation.

He also presented data on the demand and draw of power by Discos against their allocations for 24 hour cycle in July and August 2016. During this period, Discos demanded 20,162 MW against their total allocation of 20,800 MW but actually they could draw, 322 MW. He further added that all Discos were being supplied with their maximum demand without any load shedding.

The Secretary to Prime Minister stated that lower consumption by Discos as against allocated supplies clearly suggest that there are system constraints in transmission and distribution system. This will worsen with further commissioning of additional capacity in 2017 and 2018.

Officials who keep a close eye in groupings in the bureaucracy maintain that the “ Lahori Group” of bureaucracy has practically taken over the Ministry.

The newly appointed Additional Secretary Water and Power, Dr. Amir Ahmad, who is also said to be a member of the “Lahori Group”, sources claim, has also been appointed Managing Director, Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco). He took over the charge of MD Pepco prior to issuance of formal notification.