Year: 2021

CTBCM: a possibility or a pipe dream?

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The electric power sector of Pakistan has been plagued by multiple issues since the late 90s entailing both availability and affordability of energy for sustainable development in Pakistan. The recent remarks by the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) for Power and Petroleum, Tabish Gauhar, and evidence produced by several eminent economists provide a detailed root cause analysis of the problems and suggests that the solution to these issues lie in the introduction of competition in the monopolistic electricity market of Pakistan. The claim of the honorable SAPM that…

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UAE Launches National Water And Energy Demand Management Programme

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ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 04th Aug, 2021) Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, attended on Wednesday the launch of the National Water and Energy Demand Management Programme, which was approved by the Federal Cabinet to enhance the efficiency of the three most energy-consuming sectors by 40 percent. Rolled out in cooperation with strategic partners and stakeholders of the federal and local governments and the private sector, the programme targets 40 percent efficiency of the three most energy-consuming sectors in the…

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China to set up $15b oil complex

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A consortium of Chinese state-owned companies has offered to set up a $15 billion oil refinery complex that may provide some relief to Pakistan, which is grappling with the challenge of huge outflows of foreign investment in recent years. The China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company LTD (CCP) and China Zhen Hua Import and Export Corporation have shown interest to invest $15 billion in oil refinery complex, Board of Investment (BOI) Secretary Fareena Mazhar told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited is a subsidiary of the…

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U-turn on IPPs to cause hefty loss

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The government’s decision to dishonour agreements with a dozen power plants may seriously dent its reputation, lead to loss of hard-earned gains of billions of rupees annually besides exposing it to paying over Rs22 billion to power plants to settle international arbitration awards. Six months ago, the government had won significant concessions from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) by applying political force and using intelligence agencies’ stick. But it is now at the verge of losing these gains due to political expediency, a weak bureaucracy and undue interventions by the…

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FDI in OMC sector under threat

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Long-running inquiries by government departments into the oil crisis witnessed in June 2020 are hindering foreign direct investment (FDI) in oil marketing companies (OMCs) sector of Pakistan. In a statement on Wednesday, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo expressed concern over the “unfair practices of government departments and unjust treatment of smaller OMCs”. “The smooth functioning of OMCs is indispensable for any economy and consistent investments in midstream and downstream sectors are equally desirable,” he said. In the aftermath of the nationwide…

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