Day: December 25, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s plan to raise around $1.5 billion from the privatisation of two power plants is facing delay as only one foreign investor has submitted documents amid uncertainty caused by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to skip the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019.Foreign investors of Malaysia, China, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia had initially shown interest in taking part in the international competitive bidding for the sale of two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fired power plants.About 19 firms procured documents from the Privatisation Commission including around 14 foreign firms…

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ISLAMABAD: The Centre on Monday decided to take the provinces on board on issues of royalty on gas, distribution of water and appointment of chairman and members of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda). The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan. It was attended by chief ministers Usman Buzdar of Punjab, Mahmood Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Syed Murad Ali Shah of Sindh and Jam Kamal Khan Alyani of Balochistan. The meeting approved all conditions of…

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LAHORE: As hydel power generation considerably squeezed to just 1,700MW on average in the last 24 hours, the gas shortfall in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa jumped to 400MMCFD on Monday, forcing the authorities to curtail supplies to power sector. “Though the gas supply to the CNG sector and industry has already been suspended for an indefinite period to ensure provision of gas to domestic users and zero-rated export industry, massive reduction in power generation has left the distribution companies, including the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), with no other option…

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KARACHI: Pakistan Pet­­r­o­leum Ltd (PPL) ann­ou­nced two discoveries on Monday. A notice to the PSX info­rmed of hydrocarbon discovery in exploratory well, Bitro-I, in Latif Block loca­ted in Khairpur District, Sindh, by the Joint Venture Partners of the Latif Explo­ration Licence. The company holds 33.30pc working interest in the block. The second notice to the exchange related to hydrocarbon discovery in the first exploratory well, Margand X-I, in Margand Block (2866-4) that is operated by the company and holds 100pc interest in it.PPL SAID THAT IT WAS THE FIRST DISCOVERY…

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ISLAMABAD: Energy prices are rising consistently, so is the cost of doing business, which ultimately dents competitiveness of Pakistan. At the same time, the high prices are not enough to slash the growing circular debt in the energy chain. Though the government has taken measures to tackle the circular debt by curtailing losses of energy companies and checking power theft along with improved bill recoveries, the debt continues to plague the entire energy chain. The elimination of circular debt requires politically unpopular moves such as strict action against power theft and…

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