Cabinet body approves establishment of LNG-based power plant

ISLAMABAD: Cabinet Committee on Energy in its meeting in Islamabad today accorded in-principle approval for establishment of a new LNG based 1,200 MW capacity power plant.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting.

The Prime Minister emphasized that pro-active planning should be exercised regarding power supply and demand. He said it is very unfortunate that planning by relevant authorities is undertaken without inculcating important contingency factors that could not be ruled out.

He directed the Ministry of Water and Power to undertake power supply and demand analysis till the year 2023 so as to undertake integrated long-term planning with regard to fulfilling energy requirements of the country over the foreseeable future.

Mr. Sharif also directed to work out shifting of scheduled outages of power plants on account of repairs and maintenance from summer season to winter season so that maximum power is provided when most required during months of peak power demand.

The CCE meeting unanimously approved that no power shutdowns be carried out on account of development works during Ramzan.

The meeting also decided that factors including increase in use of electric appliances due to economic prosperity and behavioral patterns of power consumers be included in the estimation of projected power demands.

Secretary Water and Power Division briefed the meeting on progress of decisions made in the previous meeting including working of the inter-ministerial committee of Finance, Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources ministries, power supply and demand analysis till September 2018 and utilization of idle power plants.

The meeting also decided that factors including increase in use of electric appliances due to economic prosperity and behavioral patterns of power consumers be included in the estimation of projected power demands.