KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that electricity generated at Nooriabad power plant costs Rs 15 per unit, however industrial units are charged Rs 48 per unit.
Moreover, even though Sindh contributes more than 70 percent of the country’s gas production, industries in our province have been facing gas shortages and forced to pay RLNG charges.
He said this while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of “My Karachi – Exhibition Oasis of Harmony 2024” at the Expo Center on Friday morning. The program was attended by provincial ministers – Sharjeel Memon, Jam Khan Shoro, Jam Ikram Dharejo and Zulfiqa Ali Shah, a CM House communique said.
The CM said that he was aware that electricity tariffs had increased too much and industries were losing their viability fast, hence there were reports that closure of industries had started taking place. “We are also looking into this matter and in this regard I would like to inform the listeners that very soon we will have a power generation and distribution company in Sindh and we are preparing for it,” he said. published.
Murad Shah mentioned that the electricity generated by the Nooriabad power plant costs Rs 15 per unit but is provided to industrial units at Rs 48 per unit, which has an adverse impact on the industrial facilities and leads them to consider closure.
“I am aware that even though Sindh explores more than 70 per cent of natural gas, the industries of our province are facing gas shortage and are forced to pay RLNG charges, which is not a wise thing to do,” the CM said. He added that he was looking into that particular issue and would continue to do so until it was resolved.
CM Murad Shah said that Sindh is an energy powerhouse and we are supplying cheap electricity to the national grid from Nooriabad power plant, Gharo and Thar projects. “The tariff in Sindh Nooriabad is Rs 15 per kWh and the Nooriabad transmission line laid by the Sindh government has a tariff of Rs 0.79 per kWh. Gharo Solar’s tariff is Rs 17.43 per kWh and Thar’s tariff is also lower than other power plants. “
The CM mentioned that Thar has huge reserves of coal that could meet the energy requirements of the country for hundreds of years. “Coal is used to produce urea, gas and diesel,” he said, stressing that the federal government should focus on Thar coal. “Currently, the cheapest power in the country is generated from Thar coal,” he added.
Murad Shah also recalled that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto brought the cheapest electricity to the country during her tenure as Prime Minister. Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s IPP Power policy was adopted by Bangladesh but unfortunately faced devastation here.
The CM suggested that the issue of capacity charges could be discussed again with the IPPs and resolved through a long-term plan. “If the ad hoc policy of capacity charges continues unabated, the problem will not only remain unresolved, but will further worsen,” he said.
Mr. Murad Shah said that electricity tariff needs to be restructured to provide relief to people and industrialists and suggested that if there is a shortage of funds to develop transmission lines, industrial units consuming more power should be shifted closer to power plants.
Mr. Shah expressed determination to further improve the peace situation in Karachi, address the challenges faced by its commercial and industrial sectors and increase the city’s contribution in terms of exports from 54 percent to 80 percent and beyond. He emphasized that Karachi is the lifeline of the nation and assured that every issue affecting trade and industry in Karachi is of utmost importance to his government.
In addition, he urged businessmen to work together to ensure the growth of Karachi’s industrial sector and called for cooperation that will lead to economic growth and prosperity in the province and the country. Mr.
