We are compelled to undertake a two-hour load shedding due to a hike of 300% in coal prices: Khurram Dastagir

ISLAMABAD, May 19 (SABAH): Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan has said the government is striving hard to control load-shedding in the country.

Talking to media, along with Minister of State for Petroleum Senator Dr. Musadik Masood Malik, in Islamabad on Thursday, Khurram Dastagir said we are compelled to undertake a two-hour load shedding due to a hike of 300 percent in coal prices.

He said the country is facing this situation as a result of massive mismanagement by the previous government of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, which did not make payments to Independent Power Producers and arrange coal in sufficient quantity. He said that is why we have to reduce some of our production capacity.

The Minister said we so far have we arranged four additional ships of LNG loads and five ships of furnace oil to solve shortage of fuel in the country. He said RLNG based Haveli Bahadur Shah power plant took a break for some maintenance and soon it will start production. He said in addition to that a coal-fired IPP is also being revived after removing technical fault, which will add additional electricity to the system and improve power situation in the country.

The Minister said the government will procure more loads of furnace oil, and RLNG to provide electricity to the people on affordable rates.    

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Musadik Malik said the last government failed to arrange gas and other fuel as per needs of the country due to which the nation is facing the menace of loadshedding.  He, however, said the incumbent government has procured the LNG as per needs of the country, but on higher prices because the previous rulers did not bother to arrange the fuel well in time.