Gawadar to get 100 MW power from Iran

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Iranian Energy minister is due to visit Pakistan from October 15 to 17 and will participate in the launching ceremony of transmission line for import of 100MW power for Gawadar from Iran.

Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, Masha allah Shakeri sated this on Friday in meeting with Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf. It was agreed in the meeting to expedite the process of importing 100MW power by Pakistan from Iran on the fast track basis for its early completion.

The ambassador offered to invest in the power projects and said the Iranian companies are also interested in up-gradation projects of transmission lines system in the country on low cost basis. He also offered sizeable investment in hydropower plants and expressed intention to finance power projects in the country. He stated the Iranian government would provide all type of assistance to the new political government in every sector.

The minister while welcoming the Iranian envoy said the country had close brotherly relations with Iran. Pakistan values the help and support of Iran and is desirous of expanding bilateral relations in all sectors.

He said currently the country is facing many internal and external challenges and energy deficit is also one of them. The government is taking necessary measures to generate electricity to bridge the demand and supply gap through fast track projects.

The government has planned to bring 35,000MW by the year 2016 and steps are being taken in this regard. He said the government now attaches high priority to exploit the indigenous resources like coal, hydro and wind for power generation. He said that first wind mill in the private sector will be operative next month.

Ashraf lauded the offer of the Iranian side and said Pakistan has already signed an MoU to purchase of 100MW from Iran. He also assured his full support and assistance to facilitate Iranian investors to invest in water and power sectors in Pakistan. He also expressed this meeting would further strengthen and enhance the bilateral and economic relations between the two countries.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=136872