US commits to power up energy sector

ISLAMABAD: The United States of America has doubly ensured that it’ll lend Pakistan a hand in construction and rehabilitation of three hydropower and three thermal power plants, a statement issued by the ministry of water and power said Friday.

This endorsed commitment was made during the ‘Pak-US Energy Dialogue’ held here this week, the statement added.

According to details the United States and Pakistan reviewed progress on ongoing energy programmes and recommitted them to pursuing practical solutions to Pakistan’s energy needs during the latest Pakistan-United States Energy Dialogue.

Ambassador Carlos Pascual, US Department of State Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs, joined Pakistani Minister of Water and Power Naveed Qamar to reaffirm the partnership.

Pakistan’s future depends on power,” Ambassador Pascual said at the opening of the Dialogue. “There are no quick fixes to this crisis, but the United States and international partners are willing to help. We will continue to support Pakistan in its efforts to resolve this energy crisis”, he maintained.

Ambassador Pascual reaffirmed the United States’ long-term commitment to working with Pakistan to establish a commercially viable and sustainable power sector. During the Dialogue, the US and Pakistan reviewed ongoing cooperation in the energy sector. USAID highlighted its ongoing energy programs, which will bring more than 900 MW of power to the Pakistani grid by 2012.

The programs include construction and rehabilitation of three hydropower plants (Satpara, Gomal Zam and Tarbela) and three thermal power plants (Guddu, Muzafargarh, and Jamshoro). This extra energy will bring power to approximately 7 million people, eradicate 20% of Pakistan’s existing power shortage, reduce annual oil imports by more than one million barrels and help store water for irrigation and flood control. The increases to the energy sector will also bring job opportunities for as many as 2.5 million heads of households.

The US delegation welcomed Pakistan’s plans, elaborated in the Integrated Energy Sector Recovery Report and Plan, to put the power sector on a commercially viable and sustainable path. In the Dialogue, Pakistan underscored its commitment to strengthen energy sector governance and efficiency, pursue regulatory reforms, improve financial management, and create a business climate that helps drive investment.