Power theft losses reduce by 5.6 percent in January

LAHORE: Distribution companies saved Rs10 billion by reducing power theft losses by 5.6 percent in January 2019, compared with the corresponding month of last year, Minister for Energy (Power Division) Omar Ayub Khan said on Friday.

Speaking at the inauguration of Training Simulator at Technical Services Group (TSG) of National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NRDC), the minister said aggregate technical and commercial losses of distribution companies for January 2019 reduced by 5.6 percent, compared to January 2018, resulting in additional revenue and saving of Rs10 billion.

Attributing this to the present government's efforts against power theft and bill recovery, Khan thanked the government of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for extending assistance for installation of the Training Simulator. He said time spent in simulator was never wasted and would benefit and enhance the vision of young engineers of NTDC and DISCOs.

However, he said the Power Division, along with a team including secretary power, NTDC MD, CEOs of DISCOs, was working day and night to eliminate constrains of power sector with improvement in transmission, distribution and generation system.

“Transmission and distribution system needs to be corrected,” he said, informing that he and secretary power were making surprise visits of various distribution companies in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab for improvement of the power sector.

The present government believes in transparency, hence, receiving foreign direct investment (FDI) from various countries, including Saudi Arabia, which has shown keenness to invest in the power sector during the recent visit to Pakistan, Khan added. “The government has set target to achieve 55,000MW power generation by 2030, out of which 18,000MW power generation will be from renewable resources, resulting in decrease of power cost, and foreign exchange will be received,” the minister said.

He further said the power infrastructure transmission lines and distribution system would be upgraded, which needs investment of $55 billion. He said that the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) was working in line with the vision of the prime minister.

He also sought transfer of technology from Japan. He appreciated the efforts of CEOs of DISCOs for elimination of power theft and improvement in recoveries.

Sectary Power Division Irfan Ali also sought assistance from Japan to upgrade distribution system of DISCOs. NTDC MD also thanked JICA teams for continuous support to the NTDC. He said a number of NTDC projects of grid stations have been completed with the assistance of JICA, including 500 kV grid station Rahim Yar Khan, 500 kV New Lahore grid station, 220 kV Shalamar Grid Station, and 220 kV Chishtian grid station.

Different packages of 46.4 billion yen for grid stations and transmission line infrastructure were either completed or underway. The Project for Strengthening Training Centre on Grid System Operations and Maintenance would support Technical Service Group (TSG) to develop training courses with Japanese advanced and efficient technology.

Deputy Chief of Mission Yusuke SHINDO of Japan applauded the hospitalities extended by the Ministry of Energy, and NTDC. He vowed to extend financial assistance to Pakistan in coming years.

NTDC TSG GM Dr Rana Abdul Jabbar said so far over 100 engineers and staff have been trained through this simulator, which resulted in considerable reduction in fatal and non-fatal accidents while working on grid stations and transmission lines. Large numbers of NTDC engineers were also present on the occasion.