CARETAKER ENERGY MINISTER BATTLES FOR DISCOS, REJECTS NEPRA REPORT ON DISCOS OVER BILLING IRREGULARITIES
CARETAKER Federal Minister for Energy, Muhammad Ali, has taken a staunch stance in support of the allegedly corrupt power distribution companies (DISCOS) and turned down a report of the country’s power sector regulator (NEPRA) that highlighted electricity billing anomalies.
On Wednesday, the caretaker Energy Minister Mohammad Ali while talking to journalists, in a resolute defense, refuted the allegations of corruption within the DISCOS and countered the findings of the report of National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). He said that wrong data was used by NEPRA in overbilling report, saying that 10 million customers were not overcharged.
It may be mentioned that chief executive officers (CEOS) of the power distribution companies (DISCOS) had already admitted that customers were overcharged. Moreover, the NEPRA had used the data of DISCOS that revealed that customers were overcharged.
“Only 0.2 million customers have been affected by overbilling,” energy minister said adding that an independent committee was working on this issue and would submit its report in a week time. He said that faulty agreements by past governments had led to increase in electricity prices.
Speaking at 3rd International Hydropower Conference, caretaker minister for Power Muhammad Ali while lauding the Energy Update for organizing the conference said that it would help us to improve the policy framework in energy sector.
He said enhancing share of RE and hydropower in energy max was the government’s top priority as it was the only way to reduce the power tariff besides provision of affordable energy to the people. Currently, the share of hydel and RE in total energy mix stood at 31 per cent adding that the government has embark on an ambitious plan to enhance it to 61 per cent by 2030, he said.
He said Pakistan has tremendous potential for wind, solar and hydropower. We could alone generate around 64,000 megawatt (MW) from hydel and only tapped 11,000 MW so far.
He said work on 4200 MW Dasu hydropower, 800 MW Mohmand dam and 4500 MW Diamer Basha dam was being carried out. However, financing was a big issue for such mega projects, he added.
The minister said Pakistan has 175 billion tons of Thar coal reserves which could generate electricity for decades.
On energy conservation side, the minister said that some 3000-4000 MW could be save only through energy efficient fans across the country.
Earlier, Managing Director Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Dr Shahjan Mirza said hydropower projects were equally beneficial for environment and economy. He said that PPIB has commissioned four projects having 1100 MW capacity so far. However, he said it was not an easy task to attract private investor for hydropower projects as it required huge financing and long time-period for completion. He said the government has also set target of 60 per cent of RE and hydel share by 2030 and it would attract around $ 100 billion investment.
Chief Executive Officer Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) Engineer Muhammad Naeem while speaking on the occasion said that RE could turn the future of the country. RW was not only important for the industry and consumers but also for climate and economy of the country, he said.
He said Pakistan has huge hydro energy potential at North and RE particularly wind and solar at South. He said PEDO was playing its role to develop small hydropower projects in remote and far flung areas of KPK. Some micro hydro projects have already been supplying power supply to the near by localities at very cheap rate, he added. He said more nine such projects having 750 MW capacity were in pipelines.
He stressed the need to focus more on RE projects besides removing hurdles in its way to ensure affordable electricity to the consumers and industries.
CEO International Hydropower Association (IHA) Eddie Rich in his video message highlighted the importance and future aspect of hydropower energy.