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'Govt plans to produce 9000MV electricity from imported coal'
PEW president asks policy makers to benefit from reduced price of LNG
INP
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said that retreating coal and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) prices in the international market should be taken as a golden opportunity by policymakers to offset energy crisis in Pakistan.
"Government has planned to produce 9000MW electricity with the help of imported coal whose prices has come down to $65 per tonne after touching $130 in 2011 while LNG is available for $10 per Million Metric British Thermal Units (MMBTU) which is a ray of hope for us," said Dr Murtaza Mughal, president PEW. Talking to All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) Central Chairman Pervaiz Khan Khattak and other stakeholders, he said that the former government wanted to buy LNG from Qatar at the rate of $18 per MMBTU which included kickbacks.
"That deal would have resulted in costly energy but now India is buying LNG for $10.5 per MMBTU due to its encouraging policy and transparency therefore Pakistan can also get it at $10.5 per MMBTU," he added. He said that any delay can result in missed opportunities and colossal losses to the industry. Dr Murtaza Mughal said that the government has been encouraging private sector which can help abolish the role of commission mafia resulting in affordable energy for the masses. If Japan decided to run its 48 nuclear reactors closed since 2011 disaster or favours buying LNG from sources other than Qatar, it will have an impact of international prices.
At the occasion, Pervaiz Khan Khattak said that the government’s LNP policy will reduce load shedding, oil import bill, pollution and provide jobs to millions. He added that Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been trying to resolve energy crisis, encouraging investors and trying to revive Rs 450 billion for the CNG industry which has energised us.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk