Musharraf is responsible for delay in hydel power projects: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that some sections of media have also talked about Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park the other day and tried to give this impression that this 100 megawatt project generates 10 to 12 megawatt electricity and it has cost Rs. 18 billion. Had this amount been spent on hydel electricity than this 100 megawatt project would have provided 90 megawatt at low rate. It is correct that the cost of hydel electricity is low but all other figures are contrary to the facts, he added.

Addressing a crowded press conference at Model Town, the Chief Minister said that second question has been raised about the cost of 100 megawatt solar project and its EPC price was mentioned 18 billion rupees while this project has been completed at a cost of even less than 13.5 billion rupees including tax. He said that its EPC cost including tax comes 133.54928 million dollar.

The Chief Minister said that he always respects the media and takes guidance from it. He said that he has always accepted positive criticism by the media openheartedly. As I have told earlier that a 100 megawatt solar project produces an average of 17 to 19 megawatt and in the day time this 100 megawatt project generates 80 to 85 megawatt electricity.

In the light of these facts and figures, he said that Central Power Purchase Authority has admitted that an average of 80.5 megawatt electricity is being generated through solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur and these figures are also available at the website of Central Power Purchase Authority. He said that this discussion should know come to an end forever that 12 megawatt electricity is being generated through solar project.

He said that these figures are final and there is no room for any ambiguity in it. He said that some sections of media has also said that if this project has been completed at a  cost of 13.5 billion rupees then a 100 megawatt hydel project with the same cost could have provided 90 megawatt electricity. He said that figures have been given regarding some projects of hydel electricity on the website of a Private Power and Infrastructure Board, an institution of Ministry of Water & Power. According to these figures, a new long scap hydro project which has been set up seven kilometer downstream from Mangla and its EPC cost is 152 million dollars.

The cost of electricity generated through this project for first year is 10.2 cent, second year 10 cent and 9.9 cent for third year while plant factor is 63 percent and this will produce an average of 63 megawatt electricity. The foundation stone of this project was laid in 2009 and it was completed in 2013. In this way, Gulpur Hydro Project is of 100  megawatt and EPC cost is 235 million dollar and its per megawatt price is 2.35 million dollar which is two times more than Bahawalpur Solar Project. Its plant factor is 53 percent while its tariff has been fixed at 9.46 cent.

Similarly, a section of media has tried to give the impression that the cost of hydel project is three rupees which is not according to the facts. He said that there are less points of generating electricity from water in Punjab while a large number of opportunities are available for setting up of hydel electricity projects in KPK, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir but solar energy is generated from Punjab and similarly, work is being carried out for setting up projects for generating electricity through coal, gas and other sources. If we consider average two million dollar cost for a 100 megawatt project than a project of only 40 to 45 megawatt is set up but one megawatt is being generated at a cost of 1.33 million dollar in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Project. He said that had hydel project been set up at Bahawalpur than its plant factor would have been 55 percent and this project completed after five years.

He said that 100 megawatt hydle project provides 80 megawatt electricity at present where there is water in rivers but in winter, when there is no water, less electricity is generated. The Chief Minister said Bahawalpur Solar Project is providing an average of 18.5 megawatt electricity and he wants after bringing the facts before the people through media, the discussion about this project should be ended forever. He said that if solar is compared with wind energy, even then the cost of solar is low. He said that Mehran valleys are also of Pakistan and wind projects of 250 megawatts have been set up there and its per megawatt cost is 2.1 million dollar whereas per megawatt solar electricity is 1.33 million dollar. He said that the average production of 100 megawatt wind power plant is 28 to 30 megawatt whereas solar is 18.5 megawatt.

Shahbaz Sharif said that we have got reduced solar price from 16.3 cent to 14.1 cent and thus saved two billion rupees of people of Pakistan and due to this reason, NEPRA has also to reduce the tariff of solar. It is clear from these facts that the solar projects are cheaper than wind. He said that solar projects are completed at the earliest as neither oil nor gas is spent on it which costs billions of rupees on the import. The Chief Minister said that we all have to work jointly for the development of the country and the nation. He said these facts and figures were trust of the nation and he is fulfilling his responsibility for presenting these facts to the people through media.

He said that electricity can be provided to 54 thousand houses through solar power project for 25 years. He said that no channel talked about wind power project whereas these facts should have been presented before the nation. Shehbaz Sharif said that he will continue to serve the masses at every cost. He said the he can sacrifice his life but cannot deceive the people. He said that under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the deprivations and disappointments of the people will be changed into joys and we will have to jointly move forward for achieving this great goal.

He said that the dictator Musharraf who ruled the country for nine years did nothing for Bhasha Dam and hoodwinked the nation by staging the drama of laying foundation stone of the project whereas the government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif took steps on Bhasha and Dasu Dam in the real sense and allocated huge funds for both these projects and the process of acquiring land for these projects is continuing. He said that instead of keeping the poor people further in darkness there is a need to heel their wounds.

Replying to a question regarding Nandipur Power Project, Shahbaz Sharif said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has taken strict notice in this regard and facts will be cleared. What was the purpose of a Law Minister of Peoples Party during its tenure to keep the file of this project pending for two and a half years, he questioned.

He said NAB should investigate into the matter and it is a big crime. He said that during trial test of Nandipur Power Project 425 megawatt electricity was generated for 15 days through it but then this project was stopped and why agreement of its operation and maintenance was not made for which Prime Minister has constituted an independent committee for its investigation.

He said that a letter has been written to Auditor General for conducting audit of the expenditures incurred on this project after 2013 while its audit will also be conducted from Ferguson and facts will be cleared as it is the national asset and the money of the nation and its trust. He said that strict punishment will be awarded to the persons responsible.

The Chief Minister said that he has presented the facts and figures before the nation and in the light of these facts, he is ready to face accountability. Spokesman Punjab government Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Chairman Punjab Power Development Company and Chief Executive Officer Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park were also present on the occasion.