| GEO Pakistan | | Steps taken to tackle energy crisis | Updated at: 1922 PST, Thursday, April 22, 2010
 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday announced measures to save 500 MW daily through a series of strict steps, including a five-day working week and closure of businesses at 8 pm.
Addressing a press conference following a three-day energy conference that deliberated on the crisis of power shortage and the measures needed to address the matter Gilani said the government was sincere and fully cognizant of the suffering of the masses and was taking practical measures to address it.
Following are the important steps announced:
-Measures to save 500 MW daily
-Government to undertake four-pronged measures
-Conservation to save 500 MWs
-Short-term measures to operationalise 10 IPP for an immediate addition of 300 MWs and 1305 MWs by end of year, while, 605 MWs to be added through Rental power
-Financial measures to ensure payment of Rs 116 billion to cut circular debt and to ensure no recurrence in future
-Long term measures to add 21,000 MW through hydel, 30,000 MW through coal and 15000 MW through other sources
-Chief Minister Punjab announced a Public Sector Energy Development Fund and PM announced Rs 20 billion for the purpose
-A follow-up meeting will be held every fortnight to review the progress
-Government to seek other means of power generation including the nuclear and alternative energy
-All lights at government installations would be halved saving minimum of 11 MW
-No unauthorized official, below BPS 20, cannot use air conditioner
-The authorized official can use air conditioner after 11 am
-All streetlights would be halved, saving 314 MW
-Power to billboards, commercial decorative lighting will be cut off saving 70 MW
-The weekly off for industry will be staggered saving another 150 MW a day
-Tube wells will not operate at peak hours from 7 pm to 11 pm allowing 250 MW
-All shops to close at 8 pm apart from bakeries, pharmacies and clinics
-Marriage halls can allow a function only for three hours at a time and provincial governments will decide about their timings
-All government and allied offices to have five working days, with two weekly offs
-Measures would be remain in place till July 30 and will be reviewed, keeping in view the situation
-183 MMCF natural gas would be provided to power sector to generate 740 MW, i.e, 240 MW through Guddu, 200 MW through PEPCO and 300 MW through other generation companies
-By December 2010 the country would have an additional 1310 MW and includes five RPPs, besides a plant from Turkey
-The current generation cost is Rs 10.50 while it is being sold at Rs 6.50 per unit, increasing the circular debt
-Iran not providing free of cost electricity to Pakistan, and the project would take four and a half years to complete by erecting a 400-km power line from Zahidan.
-Guddu, Jamshoro and Muzzafargarh power stations to be renovated with the grant of $125 million by USAID |  |
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