ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Mr. Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said that import of cheaper electricity from Iran to Baluchistan Province will benefit both the countries as well as the consumers of the area and directed all the concerned authorities to remove all barriers for commissioning of the project as earlier as possible. He was chairing a high level meeting to review the technical and financial aspects of import of power from Iran to Pakistan.
Secretary and Adviser, Ministry of Water and Power, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, WAPDA senior officials and Representatives of EAD were present in the meeting. He said the import of 1000 MW power from Central Asians states was also being actively pursued and presently a team was discussing the modalities for import at Montreal where Tajikistan, Kyrghistan and Afghanistan were also participated.
The meeting was informed that presently electricity of 39 MW is being imported from Iran to meet demand of South-West Baluchistan comprising the districts of Turbat, Gawadar and Panjgoor and border towns of Mashkhail and Taftan. Considering rapid development in Gawadar area, another contract with TAVANIR for import of 100 MW for Gawadar area has also been signed, it was informed.
It was further informed that during Pak-Iran joint economic commission in Islamabad, WAPDA and TAVANIR agreed on a tariff at 6.25 cents/kwh for supply of additional 100 MW power to Gawadar by TAVANIR which was approved by ECC. The meeting also discussed the proposal of laying the 220 KV transmissions line of 55 Kilometer inside Pakistan for which financial assistance is being given by the Iranian government. The Iranian Company will bear the cost of 65 KM Transmission Line in Iran to provide power to Pakistan at its border.
The meeting also discussed financing and other aspects of the project and decided to send a larger technical group including Finance Ministry’s Representative to Iran to further negotiate the terms and conditions and other modalities for quick implementation of the project. The Minister stressed the need to expedite the efforts for early completion of the project for importing of cheaper electricity from Iran to the people of Baluchistan. The meeting also discussed import of 1000 MW power from Iran for which MOU has already been signed by the two countries in April 2007. The team will also decide various aspects of this project with their counterparts in Iran shortly.
