Resources being plundered in the name of resolving energy crisis: PEW
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Conflicting statements confusing topic of Nandipur power plant
Contract awarded to a banned firm during Musharraf’s era
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday said perpetual energy crisis has provided a golden opportunity to some elements to plunder national resources in the name of settling the crisis.
Conflicting statements of top officials on the issue is not clearing the situation but adding to the confusion, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.
He said that contract was awarded to a banned Chinese firm during Musharraf’s era but no one has bothered to include him in the inquiry.
Now the incumbent government is facing a difficult choice as operationalization of the power plants will burden national exchequer by Rs30 billion annually.
Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that spending billion on a 425 MW power plant which cannot work beyond three weeks and whose generation cost is Rs 42 per unit cannot be justified.
The plant was closed three days after the inauguration pointing towards serious flaws in the whole project, he said, adding that petroleum ministry claim that plant can run properly on natural gas holds no water as it is 170 kilometre away from the gas pipeline.
Bringing gas to Nandipur will need another project costing billions which a country like Pakistan cannot afford.
Dr. Mughal said that Public Accounts Committee should play an active role about the project which has become a symbol of government’s incompetence.
