Cabinet gives green light to Pak-Russia power project in Jamshoro

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has given a green light to enter into an agreement with Russia for construction of 600 Megawatts (MW) Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power plant in Jamshoro.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday, approving the ‘initiation of agreement between Pakistan and Russia on Cooperation for the construction of 600MW Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant at Jamshoro,” an official statement said.

It added: “On agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of Pakistan for the construction of 600MW natural gas combined cycle Power Plant at Jamshoro, the Cabinet authorised the Power Division to negotiate the details of draft Framework Agreement and bring the agreed version before the cabinet. It would also finalise the terms and conditions of the loan in consultation with the Economic Affairs Division(EAD) and the Finance Division.”

Pakistan’s new foreign policy focuses on enhancing ties with Russia while retaining the ‘all-weather friendship’ with China.

Pakistan and Russia had been in talks since the last year on the project. The two sides have already discussed the feasibility.

After the recent ‘envoys conference here, a senior foreign ministry official had told a Pakistani newspaper: “Ties with Russia are already improving so we have given it importance. The objective is to have another power with us.”

Last month, Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif had said Pakistan was undergoing a ‘seismic shift’ and needed to find a ‘correct direction’ without any delay. The statement came after US President Donald Trump snubbed Pakistan in August.