Shahbaz approves 1,190MW gas power plant

LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Provincial Cabinet, here Thursday, which gave unanimous approval to the project of gas power plant of 1,180 megawatt to be set up in Bhikki, Sheikhupura by the Punjab government with its owns resources. Cabinet members paid rich tributes to the chief minister Shahbaz Sharif for furthering the matters relating to the gas power plant speedily and in a transparent manner. The efforts of the entire team working on the project were also appreciated.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that federal government was setting up two gas power plants of 1,200 megawatt each in Haveli Bahadar Shah Jhang and Baloki in Punjab whereas provincial government was establishing gas power plant of 1,180 megawatt in Bhikki, Sheikhupura with its own resources which would be a milestone in the history of the country. He said the project would prove to be trendsetter in removing shortage of electricity from the country.
He said that 1,180 megawatt gas power project was the first and biggest project in the country’s history and the Punjab government had taken a lead by initiating work on this project. He said that production of 363 megawatt electricity would start from single cycle turbine from March 2017, whereas with the operation of second single turbine in April 2017, 363 megawatt more electricity would be produced. Similarly, he said, a total of 1,180 megawatt electricity would be available through combined stream gas turbine in December 2017. He said that gas turbines based on latest technology would be used for the project with a result the capacity of the project 61.59 percent whereas the capacity of turbines of gas-based project in the past was 54 percent. He said as compared to similar gas-based project set up in Pakistan, engineering, procurement and construction cost of the project at Bhikki Sheikhupura was only $539 million which is very low. He said that while ensuring highest standard and transparency, the Punjab government had minimised the cost to $460,000 per megawatt which was very low compared to similar projects. He said that the way all issues relating to the project from tendering to awarding of contract had been dealt with transparently was unprecedented in the history of the country.
The chief minister said that all matters relating to Bhikki Sheikhupura gas power project had been disposed of speedily and transparently and a sum of Rs120 billion had practically been saved in all three projects to be set up in Punjab. He said that credit for this goes to federal and Punjab governments. He said that saving of billions of rupees in the projects of gas power plants is a big success of the PML-N government while Nepra is also decreasing tariff due to reduction in the EPC cost of gas power plants project by the Punjab government in Bhikki Sheikhupura. He said that all issues had been settled with Federal Ministry of Petroleum regarding uninterrupted supply of gas for the powerhouses in Sheikhupura. He said that due to setting up of gas, coal, and solar based power projects, the monopoly of oil mafia for the last 60 years would be eliminated. He said that the process of acquisition of land for the project had been completed and this project had paved the way for setting up of similar gas-based projects in the province. He said the matters relating to cooperation and maintenance of the project had been settled. He said that work on the project was started in March 2015 and within a short period of six months, the issues relating to giving the practical shape to the project were dealt with speedily and transparently which was possible only through hard work and commitment.
He said that work had been carried out on this project rapidly and transparently for which he was thankful to Punjab Cabinet, Chief Secretary and the entire team. Shahbaz Sharif especially appreciated the services of Chairman Punjab Power Development Company Arif Saeed, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab, Chief Executive Officer Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Company Ahad Cheema, Chief Executive Officers for Gas Projects of Federal Government Rashid Langrial and Najam Shah who worked jointly on this project and made collective efforts for dealing with the matters relating to the projects. He expressed the hope that same spirit of determination and hard work would be displayed in the completion of gas projects within stipulated period.
The chief minister also constituted a committee to review Punjab Epidemic Diseases Control Amendment Bill 2014 and directed the committee to submit final recommendations within next few days. He said that there was a need of vigorous awareness campaign for eradication of dengue. He said the Punjab government had made awareness campaign against dengue a part of syllabus, however, institutions concerned would have to play an active role for coping with this menace.
The Cabinet members paid rich tributes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for speedily furthering the project of gas power plants and said that his hard work and commitment regarding the project was unprecedented. They said that work has been undertaken on this project in an exemplary manner under the active and vibrant leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The meeting also congratulated the chief minister on the achievement of the target of educational scholarships to one lakh talented but deserving students from Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.
The members of the cabinet also felicitated Jehangir Khanzada, son of Provincial Minister Shuja Khanzada on his glorious success in bye-election in PP-16 Attock.