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[Simpleton]

SC orders RPPs to pay back US $21million with mark up

ISLAMABAD, (SANA) The Supreme Court of Pakistan(SC) ordered to take back the amount of over US $21 million along with markup paid up in advance for two Rental Power Projects (RPPs)by today (Wednesday).

Three-member SC bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday heard the suo moto notice against rental power projects on Tuesday.

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said in his remarks that reports being divulged by WikiLeaks are quite disparaging, urging all and sundry to respect country and its solidarity.

The counsel of Guddu Rental Power Plant , Dr Pervaiz Hassan argued before the court that the matter relating the revocation of plant was in pipeline for a year now, adding the Company returned over Rs.400 million received in advance and will pay back the remaining 300 million by December 11.

Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday asked how the machinery went to Naudero, seeing that the agreement was cancelled on December 04; on top of it that even the money was not paid off.
Chief Justice said that stiff legal action would be taken against responsible of this corruption, adding that decisions in favour of the nation would be made, which would enhance the respect of country in the world; whereas surrender reduced the honor of country.
Court ordered to the RPPs officials that they should return the public money with interest by today (Wednesday) and inform the court at 9: 30 today (Wednesday). The apex court later on adjourned the matter for today (Wednesday).
After proceedings of the court former minister for interior Faisal Saleh Hayat said that he could not get justice from the Parliament but court provided justice to him, adding that government has committed corruption of 140 billion rupees in RPPs. He said that he would play his due role to save public money.



SC orders US company to return advance taken on power projects

* NEPRA had declined to approve fresh tariff for Naudero-II after discovering that project’s equipment belonged to Guddu Rental Power Project

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Power Generation Company Lt (CPGCL) to pay back all the advance, with mark-up, received for establishing the Guddu and Nodero-II power plants and inform the court about the matter today (Wednesday).

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the suo moto case regarding the alleged corruption in rental power projects (RPPs).

Walter Power International’s counsel Shahid Hamid appraised the court that a foreign company had been investing in the power sector, which should not be doubted.

“Let the institution be strengthened and there is no need to be afraid of foreign governments,” the CJ said, asking why the counsel was trying to frighten the court.

“Has the WikiLeak enhanced the government’s respect? If you will surrender everything, then no one will respect you,” the CJ said.

“Wrongly or correctly, we are the custodians of the country and it is their concern that the money is brought back,” Justice Ramday said, adding that even if they had to supervise the investigation, they would not hesitate.

Dr Pervaiz Hassan, the counsel for the Pakistan Power Resources (PPR), said the Guddu power project, which was signed on February 23, 2008, was signed on December 4. The CJ asked if his client had taken money from both projects for the same machines.

The court directed Hamid and Hassan to take instructions from their clients to submit advance payment, with mark-up, and adjourned the hearing for today (Wednesday).

According to a news story, NEPRA had declined to approve a fresh tariff for Naudero-II after discovering that the project’s equipment belonged to the Guddu Rental Power Project, which had been dismantled illegally.

The government paid 14 percent advance of $11.28 million to PPR in April for the Naudero-II, while the same company was paid 14 percent advance payment of $10.15 million for the same machines for the Guddu Rental Power Plant, having a capacity of 110MW.

[Simpleton]

Op-ed piece, makes for interesting reading.


Cents make billions…Pakistan got it all wrong

By Imran Bajwa

It sells in cents and adds billions of dollars, and Pakistan is still one of the hottest client states in this respect. Power generation, being the most lucrative, still gets foreign investment flowing to Pakistan, despite a war.

They used to sell turbines and generators and now they even own and operate them, all for our convenience. The power outages, circular debt and passing the hat to meter owners was the only logical outcome. The global IPP (independent power plants) business was originally conceived in the mid-80s to invest international private capital seeking maximum and secure profits.

The World Bank facilitated this process and Pakistan became the first client state in 1985, followed by 40 other countries. Most of these countries, including China and India, discovered the trap at a very early stage and off-loaded this golden train.

General Zia launched the IPPs in Pakistan in 1985 and General Musharraf sustained it in 2002 through a second round, in fact, adding even the rental power plants to this equation in deep national interest.

Dictators introduced and sustained this IPP culture in Pakistan, bureaucrats nurtured it, while politicians overlooked or earned petty commissions out of this down the line. Perhaps they ignored the fact that they would still need their air conditioners after retirement. The real beneficiary of this IPP cycle was international private capital. Households, businesses and to some extent agriculturists would pay for it now. WAPDA will keep to its tradition of corruption, while the global private capital will keep seeping it in so long as the dollars keep flowing back. Pakistan’s strongest government in the late 90s tried to fight, but was bullied and cowed down by the World Bank and the British government. The end result was that Pakistan became the most compliant nation in the world in this respect.

Anyone who doubts this must know that all three major foreign investors in Pakistani IPPs have multiplied their original investments within a span of 15 years. These are International Power Plc of the UK, AES Power and Walters Power of the US. World Bank guarantees, worth billions of dollars to these original investors, are also still intact. Even the bank is making money in this business, and single-handedly got it started 25 years ago after USAID rejected coal-based power plants for Pakistan.

International Power Plc, which made its debut in Pakistan’s first IPP, HUBCO, with just 17 percent stake in 1994 under World Bank guarantees, now has significant stakes in six IPPs in Pakistan.

Within one year of their first exposure to Pakistan as a potential market, they made a clean sweep in 1995 by winning the management and 26 percent shares in Pakistan’s largest power plant KAPCO that has a capacity of 1,600 MW, built by WAPDA in 10 years and handed over to the British company upon completion through privatisation.

That company then increased their shareholding in KAPCO to 36 percent, which is yet another proof of it being profitable, while only six percent of KAPCO’s shares are held by the common public in Pakistan and another 12 percent by Pakistani financial institutions. They even received the bounty of a decade long tax break until 2006.

Independent Power then invested in the Uch gas fields, using the gas in Bugti areas and burning the same in Jamali area and almost doubling its shareholding in the 586 MW Uch Power Plant II.

They then acquired stakes in HUBCO Narowal and HUBCO Laraib and finally are building the Uch II Power Plant in Balochistan, this time owning 100 percent of this new 404 MW IPP, again in collaboration with the World Bank. That makes International Power Plc directly owning over 1,600 MW of capacity in Pakistan, while managing around 2,700 MW of IPPs in the next three years. They started with 219 MW in HUBCO in 1994 and have expanded and acquired a combined installed capacity of 2,700 MW in about 20 years. That’s a growth of over 1,000 percent. The UK and the World Bank, for sure, have not written off Pakistan yet.

No surprises then that Pakistan now makes three quarters of International Power Plc’s total business exposure to the whole of Asia and the company will shortly own or manage over one-third of the total installed IPP capacity in Pakistan. But the forbearers of transparency don’t have any accessible website for their Pakistani operations, which already earn them over $ 100 million in reported profits every year, which are going to at least double during the next three years. Gilani of the Transparency International Pakistan should perhaps take notice of this omission as well, as to how somebody making such profits from Pakistan every day doesn’t even have a transparent website. Their Uch Power Plants, an investment of over $1 billion, doesn’t even have an accessible website. Did anybody ponder why such secrecy?

The matter is serious as the accruals/profits for the International Power Plc might outpace Pakistani payments to the World Bank and IMF before 2015. AES Power, which made its debut with two IPPs in the 90s with a total 700 MW capacity is now building a 1,200 MW IPP based on imported coal. AES would have a combined installed capacity of 1,900 MW within the next three years. That’s a 200 percent growth in 20 years from 1995-2015. The US has also not written us off yet.

The third lateral entrant on the scene was Walters Power of the US, along with Pakistan Power Resources (owned by Mr David Walters and Mr Iqbal Z Ahmed). Mr Walters, a former governor of Oklahoma, had nearly been impeached while in office for voter fraud, while the legendary Iqbal Z Ahmed of JJVL is reported to have deep connections to anyone who matters in Islamabad. They say greed has no limits and the Pakistani bureaucracy and politicians are always too eager to please. This wonderful duo now has claims on at least two public sector and six private sector plants in Pakistan within a span of just five years, besides elevating themselves to Forbes Global, a privilege he shares with Mian Mansha, who was very kind to add another 400 MW to the national grid in the shortest possible time to qualify to be the only dollar billionaire in Pakistan.

The interests of Mr Iqbal and Mr Walters extend to the Lakhra Coal Power (150 MW), where they were blocked by WAPDA’s labour union.

But the biggest catch the duo is gearing towards is the upcoming privatisation of the 1,024 MW Jamshoro Power Company Limited (JPCL), currently owned by WAPDA. Having seen Mr Iqbal and Mr Walters’ perseverance and hold on Islamabad, the deal appears to be already sealed. JPCL is already priced at 20 percent of its original investment in dollars and nobody in the world pays any premium to IPPs. Pakistan will see a hugely depressed sale here. International Power is obviously not interested in something that has already lived its age (KAPCO was young in 1995 and still churns out nearly $ 1 billion in annual turnover) as they didn’t even bid for this prime national asset, i.e. JPCL, this time around.

They might eventually sell the dams as well, as the national vision in Islamabad is seriously fractured. Altogether, the Walter/Iqbal duo has already acquired stakes in eight power plants with a combined capacity of around 2,000 MW in just five years. Who says Pakistan is not a place to make money. Learn it their way. All this on top of the Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (Pakistan’s largest LPG gas fields), which are already managed by Mr Iqbal Ahmed. The SSGC gets around 30 percent royalty from its gas fields while the operator, JJVL, owned by Mr Iqbal bags the remaining 70 percent as per their computed revenues and reported statements in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The SSGC is currently looking for $ 12 million worth of credit for two years to connect an existing gas field to the main grid after conceding at least $ 200 million to Mr Iqbal Z Ahmed who tacitly passed around 10 percent of this profit to around a 100 who’s who of Pakistan through personal gifts of LPG quotas and this list reportedly even includes Aitzaz Ahsan’s wife.

It makes one wonder whether corruption at WAPDA was a lesser sin then modern day greed. Politicians who sanctioned all this would pay a very heavy price for their omissions and commissions down the line.

The WAPDA employees could at least be sacked for corruption, but these foreign investors operating under World Bank and Pakistani government guarantees are absolutely untouchable. The matter is serious, as the accruals/profits for these three foreign direct investors would certainly outpace Pakistani payments to the World Bank and IMF before 2015.

Pakistan has opened its most important utility, i.e. power, to both national and international investors and in this plunder, the latter will win big as they are the ones who started and pioneered it under the World Bank’s tutelage.

The lack of national interest and farsightedness was clear when most IPPs were sanctioned with a single cycle, mostly furnace oil-based power plants in Pakistan. These could have easily been used as combined cycle IPPs. A combined cycle power plant uses the waste heat generated by turbines to produce cheaper electricity. We burn roughly twice as much fuel to produce one unit of power compared to the technology options available to us.

We end up burning double quantity of oil or gas in 70 percent of the total power we generate in Pakistan. Shame on such ignorant planners. Pakistani consumers could have been saved the burden of increased power rates if the right decisions were taken at the right time. Pakistan’s first IPP, HUBCO was a gas-guzzler and the trend continues until today, i.e. 20 years later. Our bureaucrats were originally trained by the World Bank/IMF, which also helped set the guidelines of IPP business in Pakistan through private sector energy fund (PSED) in the late 80s. The World Bank or our bureaucrats could at least have ensured efficient combined cycle power plants for Pakistan. This brings the international oil lobby into the whole equation. When the end purpose is sheer profits, who cares? These profits, by the way, come from each Pakistani household and business. Three cheers for the World Bank’s help and direction, and let’s not forget about Islamabad’s care. The only solace in this sad state of affairs are the Chashma Nuclear Plants and Ghazi Barotha Dam, where the Pakistani nation proved its prudence, to some extent, during the last 20 years.

[Tarbela]

WAPDA plans Tarbela Dam  sediment management

LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will conduct a study to tackle the issue of decreasing water storage capacity in the Tarbela Dam reservoir due to sedimentation. Besides exploring ways and means to flush the sediments out of the reservoir, the study also aims at determining its impact on the downstream irrigation infrastructure.

In response to the expression of interest, WAPDA has short-listed five joint ventures comprising consulting firms of international repute to submit technical and financial proposals for the study.

The Tarbela Dam project, built in 1974, is considered to be the lifeline of the national economy. Tarbela Lake spreads over an area of 259 square kilometres, with maximum elevation of 1,550 feet above the sea level.

Average annual water inflow at Tarbela is 64 million acre feet (MAF), which brings along a huge quantum of sediments estimated at 200 million tonnes per year. These sediments have not only decreased the storage capacity of the reservoir, but is also posing a serious threat to the powerhouse structures.

Storage capacity of Tarbela Lake has gone down to 6.77MAF in 2010 from its original storage capacity of 9.68MAF, recording a 30 percent decrease during the last 36 years.

Earlier, WAPDA had carried out five studies related to the Tarbela Dam sediment management. The recent study was recommended by Dr George W Annandale, a known expert on sedimentation, in the fifth periodic inspection and the task force created in WAPDA in consultation with the international commission on irrigation and drainage.

[Tarbela]

Kohala hydro-power project likely to be awarded to Chinese company


MIRPUR (AJK)      Kohala hydro-power project likely to be awarded to Chinese company China is playing a pivotal role in speedy development of hydro-power sector in the country, besides sharing technical support and assistance for re-construction of quake-hit areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The proposed Kohala hydro-power project in Muzaffarabad district, the largest private sector hydro-power project in Asia, was one of the mega projects next to the under-construction Mangla dam raising project and 969 Megawat Neelam-Jhelum hydel-power project, and was likely to be handed over to a reputed Chinese construction company, official sources told APP Thursday.

Talks between the top officials of the governments of both the countries were expected to be held on multi-million dollar 1100 Megawat Kohala hydro-power project during the scheduled three-day visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Pakistan commencing from Friday December 17, the sources revealed.

Elaborating the salient features of the Kohala Hydel Power project, the sources revealed that Kohala hydro-power project, a run-of-the project between Garhi Dopatta and Domel Band, consists of 14 kilometer long tunnel and a simple diversion between Garhi Dopatta and Domel.

The project has already been found environmentally up to the World Bank standards.

It may be added that a plant and machinery for 84 Megawat hydel Independent Power Project (IPP), "the New Bong Escape", at Mangla, is also being imported from China.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2010

[Simpleton]

September 13, 2010
Solar on the Cheap: Thanks Purple Pokeberry!

A dye made from the purple pokeberry — a common weed — proves uncommonly effective at juicing up the prospects for solar power.

“A valueless plant growing wild…” might be dictionary.com’s definition of purple pokeberries, but David Carroll, director of Wake Forest University’s Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, says the omnipresent “weed” will soon play a role in improving solar power in places ranging from residential green building in the United States to areas in the developing world cut off from the power grid.

Carroll says a red dye made from pokeberries can be used to coat a new type of solar cell that’s produced from millions of tiny plastic fibers. Unlike traditional solar units, fiber cells — thanks to a patented design that exposes more surface area to the sun’s rays — can produce a usable amount of power even at sunrise and sunset. (Carroll has created a spin-off company, FiberCell Inc., which is producing the first prototype cells.)

“This adds to the power a solar panel can generate during the day, but it also brings a number of dyes into commercial viability that could not be considered previously, such as the pokeberry dye,” he says. “Before our technology, this dye would have produced too low of a performance to warrant putting it in a solar cell structure, but using the fiber cell makes for an efficient system.”

The dye acts as an absorber helping the cell’s tiny fibers trap significantly more sunlight during the day, compared to current solar systems, that then gets converted into energy. The technology is especially promising because it is able to generate twice the total kilowatt-hours per day than traditional silicon-based units. Additionally, because of its “unique angular capture profile,” the material can be mounted at oblique angles on a structure yielding extremely high performance — great for architects seeking Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. In any event, the result is a winning combo: the cost advantage of thin-film photovoltaics with the efficiency of silicon cells.

To create the cells, the plastic fibers are stamped onto plastic sheets, using the same process employed to attach the tops of soft-drink cans. Then the pokeberry-dyed absorber is sprayed on. And because the plastic makes the cells lightweight and flexible, a manufacturer could roll them up and ship them at low cost to developing countries, where locals could actually grow and harvest the pokeberries and apply the dye themselves. FiberCell also envisions employing its technology for large-area manufacturing installations and military applications.

Carroll, who serves as chief technology officer of the new company, says the product represents a new class of agricultural product — agra-solar crops. “Not only are they renewable and sustainable, they also add to a value-added microeconomic expansion by displacing high-value crops such as tobacco.” Moreover, pokeberry is highly drought tolerant and because it’s so robust, it doesn’t require petrochemical fertilizers.

Says Carroll, “From developing communities in Asia and Africa, to the guy in North Carolina with 40 acres and a tobacco barn, agra-solar crops like pokeberry can be a game changer. They are a way of replacing refined oil products or the high processing costs of silicon with locally sourced resources that can be produced over and over and yield a substantial profit per acre.”

Look for these solar cells to hit the market by 2012.

[Simpleton]

September 9, 2010
Air Conditioning Using 90 Percent Less Power

A U.S. government project combining two well-known technologies — swamp coolers and water-absorbing compounds — generates an amazingly efficient air conditioner.

We often take air conditioning for granted as we escape from the sweltering summer heat in our climate-controlled homes, but it is an expensive, energy-intensive technology. By some estimates, it accounts for about 14 percent of the electricity consumed by American households.

That current comes largely from coal- and gas-fired power plants — bad news as we look for ways to cut carbon emissions to soften the impact of global climate change.

Now, engineers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., have developed an innovative air conditioning concept that promises to cut electrical demand by up to 90 percent — and it works well in both Gulf Coast humidity and desert heat.

It goes by the not-very-mellifluous moniker of DEVap (for “desiccant-enhanced evaporative”) cooling. But with major air conditioning manufacturers showing interest, it could soon be an attractive alternative to conventional technology.

“We’ve discovered what we think is a new concept in air conditioning,” says Ron Judkoff, the principal program manager on the project. “We recognize its potential, but it has a ways to go before it’s out of the lab and available to consumers.”

The new, patented system abandons the power-hungry compressor-driven refrigeration process used in many domestic (and virtually all commercial) air conditioners in favor of a couple of high-efficiency pumps and fans. But it also uses water for evaporative cooling — a concept familiar to many people living in the arid West who have roof-mounted “swamp coolers.”

Swamp coolers work well when the outside air is dry, as evaporating water carries away heat, cooling and moistening the air that is re-circulated into the house.

But Judkoff identifies a few shortcomings of traditional evaporative cooling. He says the evaporation happens on wetted pads that are susceptible to mineral buildup and even bacteria growth. And if the outside air is both hot and humid, evaporation alone can’t lower the air temperature to comfortable levels.

He says that in Phoenix, where the annual monsoon and human activities like irrigation raise summertime humidity levels, there might be as many as six weeks each year where evaporative cooling won’t work.

Evaporative cooling also introduces moistened air into the building, which might be an advantage in a very dry climate, but isn’t always desirable, Judkoff says.

In a warm, humid climate, like Houston’s, most people turn to vapor compression cooling because it can cool (albeit somewhat inefficiently) with moist air.

At NREL, engineers talk about “sensible” cooling loads – the dry bulb temperature shown by a thermometer — and “latent” loads, which reflect uncomfortable humidity. “The problem with normal vapor compression air conditioning is if most of your load is latent,” Judkoff says, “you’ve got to accomplish a little bit of cooling to make people comfortable, but you’ve got to accomplish a lot of drying to make people comfortable.”

Vapor compression machines run warm, humid air by a chilled coil. “The coil is cold enough that that humid air goes to the dew point and it drops moisture. But as soon as you satisfy the thermostat — let’s say you’ve got the temperature down to 70 or 72 degrees — well, it stops. The humidity is still there.”

This problem is usually solved by chilling the air to a much colder temperature, wringing out the moisture, he says. Then the air is warmed back up to a comfortable room temperature, a brute-force solution that wastes a lot of electricity.

Going back to the drawing board, NREL engineers turned to desiccants — water-absorbing compounds that dry the surrounding environment. Desiccants have been used on a commercial scale in manufacturing processes that required strict moisture control, Judkoff says. (They are also in the little sugar-packet-sized sachets — clearly marked “DO NOT EAT” — found in the packaging for many consumer electronics.)

In building a prototype, the NREL researchers used a calcium chloride salt solution as a desiccant and relied on a technical breakthrough from a company that had found a way to keep tiny, corrosive desiccant droplets from leaking into the metal ductwork of the device.

They turned to another vendor for a high-tech membrane that prevents liquid water from crossing from one side to the other but allows water vapor to freely move through it. The desiccant solution is contained on one side of the membrane, but as air is drawn through from the other side, it is cooled through evaporation and dried as the desiccant absorbs water, Judkoff says.

“We’ve designed all that into a single core, in which the drying and the cooling are accomplished sort of instantaneously as the air passes through,” Judkoff says. “We got rid of all the disadvantages of evaporative cooling, but we kept all the advantages — evaporative cooling is a very efficient form of cooling.”

In modeling how the DEVap system would perform in Phoenix, “we get on the order of 90 percent savings” in electrical demand, Judkoff says, when compared with a high-efficiency 18 SEER vapor compression air conditioner.

The system sees a 50 percent power savings even in swampy Houston-like conditions, Judkoff says.

While others have proposed somehow combining evaporative and desiccant cooling, Judkoff says NREL is the first to come up with a practical, cost-effective approach. “We’ve proved it out thermodynamically in some testing and have now written some more careful models to see how it actually behaves in some typical buildings and climates,” he says.

One caveat is that DEVap air conditioners require a low-temperature heat source (in the range of 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit) to warm the desiccant so that it releases the water it has absorbed. Judkoff says that could be accomplished through solar heating in some configurations, reducing power requirements even more.

In addition to reducing the load on the electrical grid, which should translate into lower carbon emissions, DEVap cooling eliminates the need for ozone-depleting CFC and HCFC refrigerants. Judkoff notes these compounds are actually worse greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. For each unit of mass, “they can be 10,000 times more debilitating to the atmosphere,” he says.

It could be two to three years before DEVap coolers become commercially available, Judkoff says. “We’ve gotten calls from a lot of major players out there,” he says. “The size of the potential market is very large and the size of the potential energy savings worldwide is very large.”

[nazia]

yes but the electricity need to our country and there is very large reqirments in our state,
for the energy crisis we singn many territies to out side world for exemple china and many more state,
but the question is that, that why energy come to low leval in our state. brief me on the issue, thanks

[Tarbela]

A project to generate 2,300MW of electricity through wind turbines and solar panels has turned out to be the most important agreement reached with China during the recent visit of Premier Wen Jiabao, the project would involve an investment of $6.5 billion and wind power projects of 1,000MW each would be set up in Punjab and Sindh. A 200MW solar power project would be set up in Punjab and another of 100MW in Sindh.

The agreement signed between the China International Water and Electric Corporation and the Alternate Energy Development Board would also involve transfer of technology and China would assist Pakistan in manufacturing solar panels and turbines.

[Simpleton]

New solar fuel machine 'mimics plant life'

By Neil Bowdler Science reporter, BBC News

A prototype solar device has been unveiled which mimics plant life, turning the Sun's energy into fuel.

The machine uses the Sun's rays and a metal oxide called ceria to break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels which can be stored and transported.

Conventional photovoltaic panels must use the electricity they generate in situ, and cannot deliver power at night.

Details are published in the journal Science.

The prototype, which was devised by researchers in the US and Switzerland, uses a quartz window and cavity to concentrate sunlight into a cylinder lined with cerium oxide, also known as ceria.

Ceria has a natural propensity to exhale oxygen as it heats up and inhale it as it cools down.

If as in the prototype, carbon dioxide and/or water are pumped into the vessel, the ceria will rapidly strip the oxygen from them as it cools, creating hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide.

Hydrogen produced could be used to fuel hydrogen fuel cells in cars, for example, while a combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide can be used to create "syngas" for fuel.

It is this harnessing of ceria's properties in the solar reactor which represents the major breakthrough, say the inventors of the device. They also say the metal is readily available, being the most abundant of the "rare-earth" metals.

Methane can be produced using the same machine, they say.
Refinements needed

The prototype is grossly inefficient, the fuel created harnessing only between 0.7% and 0.8% of the solar energy taken into the vessel.

Most of the energy is lost through heat loss through the reactor's wall or through the re-radiation of sunlight back through the device's aperture.

But the researchers are confident that efficiency rates of up to 19% can be achieved through better insulation and smaller apertures. Such efficiency rates, they say, could make for a viable commercial device.

"The chemistry of the material is really well suited to this process," says Professor Sossina Haile of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). "This is the first demonstration of doing the full shebang, running it under (light) photons in a reactor."

She says the reactor could be used to create transportation fuels or be adopted in large-scale energy plants, where solar-sourced power could be available throughout the day and night.

However, she admits the fate of this and other devices in development is tied to whether states adopt a low-carbon policy.

"It's very much tied to policy. If we had a carbon policy, something like this would move forward a lot more quickly," she told the BBC.

It has been suggested that the device mimics plants, which also use carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to create energy as part of the process of photosynthesis. But Professor Haile thinks the analogy is over-simplistic.

"Yes, the reactor takes in sunlight, we take in carbon dioxide and water and we produce a chemical compound, so in the most generic sense there are these similarities, but I think that's pretty much where the analogy ends."

Daniel Davies, chief technology officer at the British photovoltaic company Solar Century, said the research was "very exciting".

"I guess the question is where you locate it - would you put your solar collector on a roof or would it be better off as a big industrial concern in the Sahara and then shipping the liquid fuel?" he said.

Solar technology is moving forward apace but the overriding challenges remain ones of efficiency, economy and storage.

New-generation "solar tower" plants have been built in Spain and the United States which use an array of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto tower-mounted receivers which drive steam turbines.

A new Spanish project will use molten salts to store heat from the Sun for up to 15 hours, so that the plant could potentially operate through the night.

[Tarbela]

Sites for 600MW coal power projects identified


The Punjab Coal Mining Company (PCMC) has identified various locations for 400 - 600 MW coal-based power projects. A Small Resource Strategic Unit has also been constituted for the fast track implementation of mineral strategies while evaluation of coal and iron ore reserves have been initiated to meet potential investors requirements in accordance with international standards.

[Tarbela]

Failure to take timely decision: power projects not progressing smoothly

MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD  (January 04, 2011) :

"Starting with Diamer Bhasha dam to Neelum-Jehlum, every project is facing delay, which would imply a reasonable escalation in cost," sources said. Bunji (7000 MW installed capacity) run-of-the-river project, is in an advanced stage of detailed engineering. It is almost 120 km upstream of Bhasha.

The government is investing in the project without undertaking any study on transmission of bulk power and energy generated by the project. The installed capacity of the project has been exaggerated to a mythical extent (in all other studies the maximum installed capacity of Bunji is not above 1600 MW).

Dasu hydropower project is also a run-of-the-river project, but its feasibility is dependent on the flow regulation from Bhasha reservoir. The executing agency has almost completed the feasibility as well as advanced detailed engineering, sources said. Without the guarantee of Bhasha's commissioning, Dasu is not a feasible project.

Allae Khawar, Khan Khawar and Dubai Khawar projects are in advanced stages of construction for the last ten years for transportation of power and energy. A 220 kv line has been erected, without any comprehensive planning. Neelum Jehlum hydropower project is a unique project where the main contractors were mobilised before the appointment of design and supervision consultants (at least 01 year delay). The approved PC-1 (approximately Rs 100 billion) is being revised at this early stage (3rd year). Total gestation period is 10 years. Tentative cost increase as envisaged is 50 percent. The PC-1 cost will go to Rs 150 billion. Definitely, there will be another revision in coming 3 to 5 years, sources added.

Wapda is still searching an alternative method for excavation of tunnels through Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). Sources said that visiting manufacturers failed to take any decision on this matter and if Wapda places order, TBM will take two years. As per original schedule and the conventional tunnel excavation method, the project is delayed by at least two years.

Mangla reservoir level should have been raised to 1210 mark. This was not achieved because of failure to evacuate people from the reservoir area. Delay in construction of colonies for the affectees is one of the major reasons for the delay in the project.

Likewise, rental power plants (RPPs), which were cleared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), are also behind schedule but the responsible organisations are extending undue favour to them instead of imposing penalties as per the agreements. Official documents show that the recently installed 232 MW Karkey barge-mounted RPP has failed to achieve full COD in May 2010, subsequent to two extensions granted to it. Initially, it was to achieve COD on November 8, 2009.

"The delay in achievement of COD for this plant is more than six months. Therefore, the rental power plant was due for both renegotiations of tariff and for reduction in rental period of 5 years," sources said. Karkey is the most expensive plant, with a rental rate of 5.98 cents per unit, and at today's oil prices of plus Rs 60,000 per ton it would cost the Pakistani energy users upward of 19 cents per unit. In comparison, the average cost per unit, as propagated by Pepco, is around Rs 9.50 per unit.

The 201 MW Reshma rental power plant was to achieve COD on December 31, 2009, but was unlikely to do so before January 2011. Consequently, this plant is also due for re-negotiation of tariff and for reduction of rental period by one year. The Ministry of Water and Power is allegedly pressurising Northern Power Generation Company Limited (Genco-III), through Pepco, to arrange special and illegal facility for partial COD.

5 RPPs, not yet approved/signed, should be discontinued; (ii) the inconsistencies in contracts to be removed; (iii) the contract timelines should be strictly enforced; (iv) commercial operations tests should be witnessed and certified by an internally acceptable independent engineer; (v) elimination of 100 percent load shedding during peak demand period is not a viable option from the affordability perspective; (vi) integrated analysis of optimum use of available gas and new sources should be aggressively pursued for affordable power; (vii) new IPPs in pipeline, particularly gas-based, should not be delayed; (viii) RPPs should be dispatched as "must run" plants till 2012; and (ix) import trade policy should include quality control for old and used plants.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2011

[Tarbela]

Two thermal power plants to start this month

SIALKOT: Two newly established thermal power plants would start functioning during the current month. Gepco Chief Executive Gujranwala region Muhammad Ibrahim Majoka told the newsmen here that 425 megawatts power station has been established at Nandipur-Gujranwala and 225 megawatts power plant has been established in Narowal district.

[Tarbela]

3.5MW hydropower project to be inaugurated tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking ceremony of the Machai Hydro Power Project of 3.5 megawatt (MW) capacity — the first project of the Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Program (REDSIP) will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at village Alo, district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) arranged a multi tranche financing facility of $500 million for the development of commercially viable renewable energy public sector projects for the provinces from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The AEDB also served as facilitator and coordinator at the federal level, while the provinces were the executing agencies for this programme at provincial level.
Under this program, 10 Hydro Power Project (KPK 03, Punjab 05, GB 2) with a total capacity of 110.1 MW were being implemented with an estimated cost of $139.5 million, which was expected to be completed by the end 2012.
Under this programme, Three (3) Hydro Power Project with aggregate capacity of 50MW were being started in KPK, which were Machai Hydro Power Project (3.5 MW), Ranolia Hydro Power Project (17MW) and Daral Khwar Hydro Power Project (Swat), hydro project (36.6 MW). The Ranolia Hydro Power Project was to be inaugurated on January 05, 2011, but postponed to another date shortly. In Punjab, 5 Hydro Power Project with the cumulative capacity of 30.1 MW had been started at UCC Main Lower near Gujranwala (4.8 MW), Deg Fall Sheikpura (5.5 MW), Pakpattan Canal (3.3 MW), LBDC Okara (5 MW) and UCCM Marala (11.5MW).
staff report Daily News

[Tarbela]

Sixty-six million dollars aid to help build two dams: Ruggiero

ISLAMABAD: The United States will provide $66 million to Pakistan to help complete Gomal Zam and Satpara dam projects, according to two agreements signed by Acting US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Frank Ruggiero and Pakistani officials here on Friday.

Mr Ruggiero said that the two dams – which envisage supply of 35 megawatts of electricity to nearly 55,000 households in South Waziristan and Skardu – were examples of the Obama administration’s commitment to help Pakistan meet its energy needs.

The envoy said the United States was providing $40 million to help complete the Gomal Zam dam in South Waziristan. The project will generate and provide 17.4 megawatts of electricity to 25,000 households and mitigate an estimated $2.6 million of potential flood damage annually. The Gomal Zam dam will have the capacity to store enough water to irrigate 191,000 acres of farmland.

He said the US was providing $26 million to complete the Satpara dam project, located at Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The dam will provide 17.7 megawatts of electricity to nearly 30,000 households and help reduce load-shedding in the area. The dam water will irrigate over 15,000 acres of land. It will also provide 3.1 million gallons per day of potable water.
—APP

[Tarbela]

ECC agrees to raise Rs 20 bn for Diamer-Bhasha Dam project

ISLAMABAD (updated on: 2011-01-14 19:22:35 PST):
The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) here on Thursday allowed Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to raise Rs.20 billion for the Diamer Bhasha Dam project.

The ECC met here under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.

The Committee, on the proposal in a summary moved by the Ministry of Water and Power allowed WAPDA to raise Rs.20 billion for the Diamer Bhasha Dam project.

The Diamer-Bhasha Dam would add 4500 MG of hydro power with live storage capacity of 6.4 million acres foot of water for the irrigation purposes.

The Minister for Water and Power has informed the committee that WAPDA has already raised Rs.8 billion in 2006 and 8 billion in 2007 and is currently servicing them.

The 20 billion funds to be raised by WAPDA shall be under the Government of Pakistan guarantee from the market and shall repay to the Government of Pakistan.

Business Recorder :

[Zola]

“Power crisis can be overcome with coal-based electricity”

FAISALABAD: Pakistan has huge coal reserves which could be used to overcome prevalent energy crisis by producing cheaper electricity.

This was claimed by Dr Samar Mubarak Mand member Science and Technology, Planning Commission of Pakistan while addressing a seminar on “Energy Crisis in Pakistan” organized by the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) here on Friday.

He said Pakistan was the second country in the world which had huge coal reserves. However, it is need of the hour to start getting coal, diesel and gas from these reserves as the country is passing through a critical stage due to multi-faceted crisis prevailing in the country.

“If we get electricity from coal, it would cost only Rs 3.5 to Rs 5 per unit” he said, adding that our neighboring countries are far ahead from us in development pace only due to the use of coal-based energy.

He said Allah Almighty has bestowed Pakistan with all kinds of natural resources and now it is our duty to utilize these resources in a fair and transparent manner for the welfare and betterment of mankind.

Divisional Commissioner Tahir Husian and Chairman Ad-hoc Management Committee FCCI Muhammad Naseer also addressed the function.

Later, memento of the chamber was also presented to Dr Samar Mubarak Mand.

http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/15/power-crisi...ar-mubarak.html

[Tarbela]

World oil prices spike towards $100-per-barrel milestone


LONDON: Oil is fast approaching $100 for the first time in two years, at the end of a momentous week which saw the market driven by the Brent contract’s looming expiry, supply-side worries and falling US reserves.


OIL: London Brent oil surged to $99.20 a barrel late on Friday – touching the highest level since October 1, 2008 – and encroaching on the key psychological milestone of $100.

“London’s benchmark Brent crude touched on highs above $99 ahead of February expiry on Friday,” VTB Capital analyst Andrey Kryuchenkov told AFP.

In recent days and weeks, oil prices have been catapulted higher as recent freezing winter weather stoked hopes of rising energy demand in Europe and elsewhere.

The market has also been propelled by the weaker dollar, supply problems and falling energy reserves in the United States.

On Wednesday, Brent oil had leapt close to 99 dollars, boosted as the key Trans-Alaskan pipeline remained shut following a leak that struck over the weekend.

The key link reopened on Thursday, dampening sentiment, but some analysts still predict that oil will strike $100 in the near future.

“The recent rise in crude oil prices has prompted some speculation that we could well see $100 prices quite soon,” said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

[Tarbela]

ADB fails to firm up Diamer-Bhasha project financing
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD  (January 16, 2011) : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has failed to firm up financing for the 4500 mw multi-billion dollars Diamer-Bhasha hydropower project, despite giving assurance of financing to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani some two years ago. However, the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting Thursday allowed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to float Rs 20 billion Sukuk bonds and Term Finance Certificates (TFCs) to finance the project.

ADB Director General Central and West Asia Department had met Prime Minister Gilani on February 26, 2009 and had assured him of financing for the project, but has still to make good his promise. On Saturday, Acting Country Head of the ADB held a meeting with the Minister for Water and Power, Pervez Ashraf, to review the progress and other related matters of the project.

"ADB delegation informed the meeting that the Bank is already in the process of due diligence of the project and all aspects of this very important hydel power generation project have been included for assistance," says an official statement.

Wapda has already started land purchase for the project but the affectees are unhappy with the organisation for not giving them priority in jobs. Ashraf said that after completion, the dam would generate cheaper electricity of 4500 mw with live storage capacity of 6.4 million acre-feet to irrigate thousands of acres of land. He said that the life of Tarbela dam would extend for about 35 years after completion of Basha dam. He said that Pakistan is facing energy crisis and taking all possible measures to mitigate it.

The Minister said that the government is also working on various other hydel power projects to reduce dependence on thermal power and to generate cheaper and clean electricity to meet the future electricity needs. He said that the government is very enthusiastic and the people of the area are very keen for early construction of the project. He said that Wapda has started implementation of the resettlement plan and land acquisition.

Earlier, Wapda Chairman Shakeel Durrani briefed the meeting on the current status of the dam, allocation of funds by the government during 2009-10, sanctioning of Rs 20 billion for the 2010-11, establishment of land acquisition and resettlement unit in Wapda, land acquisition in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhaw, upgradation of KKH, three years' resettlement plan and other related matters.


Copyright Business Recorder, 2011

[Tarbela]

$100 million ADB fund for Uch-II power plant

The loan will fund construction of 404MW gross capacity Uch-II. Located on surplus land at the existing Uch-I site, the project would be developed by a British power company. The plant is expected to take 30 months and would be completed in September 2013.

An ADB report related to the project states that the project will address the country`s growing energy deficit by adding net 375.2 MW or 8.9 per cent of the energy shortfall and promote higher energy efficiency in the country`s power generation mix by commissioning a combined cycle power plant fueled by a low BTU gas.

The project by using domestic gas decreases reliance on imported oil and diesel fuel for power generation, thereby relieving pressure on precarious foreign exchange reserves. In addition, the project stimulates employment and economic growth in Balochistan, it says.

The project will tap gas from the Uch field about 47km from the site, with electricity supplied to the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) under a 25-year take-or-pay power purchase agreement.

[Tarbela]

Pakistan’s AttockRefinery Ltd (ARL) to upgrade refinery, boost gasoline output

SINGAPORE: Attock Refinery Ltd (ARL) plans to upgrade its refinery in northern Pakistan over the next two years by adding new units to produce more gasoline and feed a growing national supply deficit, the company’s chief executive said on Thursday.

The $100 million upgrade to build an isomerization and a preflash unit will stall the company’s naphtha exports in favour of more valuable gasoline, Adil Khattak, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Asia Refineries conference in Singapore.

For Attock, the investment in the two units will increase production of “a more added-value product, so that would be adding into our profits,” he said.

Attock earlier this month invited bids to build the units at its 45,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in northern Pakistan that will take capacity to more than 55,000 bpd by the end of 2013.

Pakistan’s five refineries yield a naphtha surplus of about 650,000-700,000 tonnes per year (tpy) because the country lacks a petrochemical industry to use it as a feedstock, according to Khattak.

At the same time, the country’s demand for oil products stands at more than 20 million tpy compared with domestic output of about 12 million tpy, Khattak said. Much of that growing deficit is in gasoline, as smuggling from Iran receded in the past year and a natural gas shortage rendered compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles unpopular.

Reuters

[Tarbela]

Pakistan, ADB ink $242m to improve power distribution system

ISLAMABAD (updated on: 2011-01-28 16:20:15 PST):
Pakistan and Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed an agreement to invest US $242 million in improving power distribution system in the country.

The signing ceremony was held here at Economic Affairs Division. The agreement was signed by Sibtain Fazal Halim, Secretary Economic Affairs Division and Rune Stroem, country director ADB, while the project agreement was signed by the representatives of all the 8 Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

The loan is meant for Tranche-2 of the Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Programme under Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF). ADB's total MFF programme is of US $810 million (US $ 800 million OCR and US $10 million ADF). The programme is comprised of Multi-tranches and the same will be implemented in ten years period.

The objective of the project is to rehabilitate, augment and expand power distribution systems and remove system bottlenecks in the project area.

The project shall add 3,380 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) of transformer capacity, 387 km of new distribution lines, and improve security of supply to customers by moving toward compliance with regulatory security standards governing planning and operation of the distribution system and reliability improvement on the lower voltages. The project is expected to be completed by March 21.

Speaking on the occasion the ADB's country director said that energy conservation and energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way of increasing electricity supply. "This project will not only reduce electricity lost during delivery to the customers but also improve the quality of service by helping to get rid of technical bottlenecks", he added.

The first tranche of US $ 252 million (US $ 242 million OCR and US $10 million ADF) was released on January 13, 2009. The ADB has invested US $2.9 billion in the Power Sector in Pakistan.

The programme includes Power Distribution Enhancement Investment Programme, Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Programme, Renewable Energy Development Sector Investment Programme and Energy Efficiency Enhancement Programme.

APP (Associated Press of Pakistan),

[Tarbela]

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be providing a loan to help fund the first privately owned and financed wind farm in Pakistan to help improve the country's energy generation.

The output from the plant will provide much-needed additional power for Pakistan, improve the country's energy security, and lower reliance on fossil fuels.

Zorlu Enerji Electrik Uretim farm will use the 36.8 million dollars loan to install wind turbines to increase the output of its wind farm from the current 6 megawatts to a total 56.4 megawatts. The farm is located in the southern Sindh, 100 kilometres northeast of Karachi.


"We estimate that three to five projects will come on line following ADB's support for Zorlu Enerji's wind farm," said Siddhartha Shah, Senior Investment Specialist in ADB's Private Sector Operations Department.

Zorlu Enerji, listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, owns and operates Turkey's largest wind farm, the statement said adding it is 68 percent owned by Zorlu Holding AS, one of the largest conglomerates in Turkey.

The existing 6 megawatts wind farm project is currently dispatching power to the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company. Once the second construction phase is complete - expected in 2012 - the 56.4 megawatts wind farm will supply power to the national grid through a 20-year take-or-pay power purchase agreement with the National Transmission and Dispatch Company.

The approved tariff will ensure that the electricity is priced competitively, with the rate dropping over time as project debt is paid down.


with 30 percent financed through equity provided by Zorlu Enerji and the rest through US dollar-denominated loans from ADB, the International Finance Corp, the ECO Trade and Development Bank and a Pakistan rupee loan from Habib Bank.

ADB's loan will carry a tenor of 12 years with a two-year grace period.


Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

[Tarbela]

50 MW wind power farm to be set up in Thatta


KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Monday gave away the land allotment documents to the representative of Iran-Pakistan Wind Power Limited (IPWPL) for setting up 50 MW wind power project.

Consul General of Iran Abbas Ali Abdollahi received the land documents from the chief minister on behalf of IPWPL.

Qaim Ali Shah, while inaugurating the event, said that through this joint venture the trade relations between Iran and Pakistan would further improve.

IPWPL chief executive Khurram Saeed said that the wind farm would be set up at the allocated land of 1,250 acres and the cost of the project is $100 million.

The project will take at least three years to start commercial operation and so far no tariff has been fixed. He added that the company was reviewing options to import turbines either from Iran or China.

[Tarbela]

welcome back.

[Tarbela]

All options on table to end energy crisis: Khar



  go

Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who was addressing a press conference, said Pakistan would not depend on any one solution but would also pursue the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, besides the Iran gas. — File Photo
MULTAN: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said here on Monday that Pakistan would avail itself of all available opportunities, including the Iran gas pipeline project, to overcome its energy crisis.
Ms Khar, who was addressing a press conference, said Pakistan would not depend on any one solution but would also pursue the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, besides the Iran gas.
Answering a question about US concerns over the Pak-Iran pipeline project, she said “we cannot be selective in this regard and we will complete this project to overcome the energy crisis.”
The minister said a new era of trust had begun in ties with India and an uninterrupted dialogue had improved the level of confidence.
She said the process of dialogue had remained suspended for a long time but now both countries realised that dialogue was the only option.
She said the Amroka-Bhatinda railway section between India and Pakistan would be restored if it was in the interest of Pakistan and of people of the area.
Ms Khar said foreign policy of the PPP-led government was based on developing friendly ties with all neighbouring countries, including India, China, Iran and Afghanistan. Close relations with these countries will help maintain peace in the region.
She said the executive had handed over to parliament the authority to devise foreign policy because the government believed that the policy should have public ownership.
The key to restoration of Nato supplies was with parliament which alone would take a decision about it, she added. The decision will be taken in national interest.

[Tarbela]

Gas pipeline from Iran is in deep water (sea).
Pakistan is getting only electric power from them.

[Tarbela]

‘Turkish plant to start generating 56MW in Dec’
* 3-member Turkish delegation decides to set up another wind power project of 200MW in Sindh

Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish wind power project of 56 megawatts (MW) will start generation from December 2012 in the Coastal area of Jhampir in Sindh.

This was told by three-member delegation of Zorlu Energy Group of Turkey lea by Ibrahim Sinnon Ak, which called on Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar on Thursday.

Sionnon said that financial close for 56 MW wind project has been achieved and all other requirements have also been completed and construction on site has begun. Turkish investors are very satisfied with the investment-friendly environment in Pakistan and have decided to set up another wind project of 200 MW. The work in this regard has also been started. He appreciated the cooperation extended by the government of Pakistan, ministry and Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) for setting up of the wind farms in Pakistan to generate clean and cheaper energy. The delegation also asked the minister for provision of land in the wind corridor in coastal area of Sindh for their 200 MW wind project.

Qamar appreciated the Turkish investment in the alternative energy projects and said that it will attract more investors in this sector. He said that the government has planned to generate 1,500 MW on fast track basis from wind energy and upfront tariff has been announced in this regard to facilitate the investors. He assured the delegation that land for 200 MW wind project will be provided to the company on lease at the earliest and directed the AEDB chief executive officer to take up the matter with the government of Sindh for early allotment. The minister also said the government will facilitate the Zorlu and other Turkish investors and asked to make more investment in this sector. He said that Pakistan is an energy-starved country and the government is taking all possible steps to overcome the energy shortages. He said that the government is focusing on cheaper energy generation in future, which is only possible through alternative and indigenous resources like wind, solar, coal and hydel.

[Tarbela]

Financing the project:

Chinese bank ‘backs off’ from Iran gas pipeline

The all-weather friendship appears overcast, purportedly due to Western pressure.
A federal cabinet committee on Tuesday constituted a ministerial committee for reviewing alternate options to arrange funds for construction of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline after a Chinese bank backed off from financing the project.
Headed by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet took the decision after the petroleum ministry disclosed that the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) was reluctant to sign the financial advisor contract despite being the lowest bidder.
The financial advisor is responsible for arranging funds for completing the 800-kilometre-long pipeline, at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion.
The committee will comprise the petroleum minister, the water and power minister, the State Bank governor, petroleum, finance and economic affairs division secretaries and the Planning Commission deputy chairman.
“A probable reason for not signing the agreement [by the ICBC] to date could be changing geo-political situation in the region,” said a petroleum ministry summary tabled at the ECC meeting. Earlier, the US has threatened to impose sanctions on companies that deal with Iran.
The ICBC was finalised as the financial advisor through an international competitive bidding. However, according to a petroleum ministry official, the bank had demanded awarding the pipeline construction project to a Chinese firm without competitive bidding.
The petroleum ministry sought the ECC’s permission to cancel the contract with the ICBC and award it to the second-lowest bidder, which is a consortium of United Bank Limited, Burj Capital, ECO Trade and Development Bank, Field Stone Group and Islamic Corporation for Development of Private Sector.
The decision to go ahead with the pipeline project came despite a US ‘warning’ to look for alternative options and abandon the project.
According to a contract signed in 2009, Iran will supply 750 million cubic feet of gas per day from South Pars fields to Pakistan.
http://tribune.com.p...n-gas-pipeline/

[Tarbela]

Pakistan eyes Russia for multimillion dollar gas pipeline
AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Thursday it would seek Russian funding for a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline from Iran amid Chinese reluctance to invest in the project over fears it could be hit by sanctions.

The quest for alternative sources of funds began when the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) failed to sign up to a consortium to finance Pakistan’s $1.5 billion share of the project.

“Pakistan’s technical delegation will visit Moscow early next month to have discussions on this subject,” said foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit.

The Pakistan team will hold talks with relevant officials and different companies, including Russian gas giant Gazprom, Basit said.

A petroleum ministry official confirmed that Russia was a possible source of funding, given that there has still been no formal response from ICBC.

The United States wants Islamabad to abandon the project because of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, but Pakistan has insisted it is vital in helping to overcome a debilitating energy crisis.

Pakistan and Iran signed a deal in 2010 in which Tehran would supply natural gas to its eastern neighbour from 2014, with sales to reach 750 million cubic feet to one billion cubic feet per day by mid-2015.

Pakistan, which produces just 80 per cent of its own electricity needs, has presented the $7.5 billion gas project as a partial answer to the energy crisis, which has led to blackouts and has suffocated industry

[Sanguine]

ISLAMABAD: The  Supreme Court on Friday declared Rental Power Projects (RPPs) as illegal and also ordered them to be shut down, DawnNews reported.

The SC was announcing the verdict of the case of corruption in Rental Power Projects (RPPs) which had already been held in reserve on December 14, 2011.

A two-member bench comprising of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing the suo motu case.

The apex court said that the rules and regulations were violated in these projects due to which the national exchequer witnessed losses of billions.

Prior to RPPs, the electricity generation system had sufficient potential,  but “instead of taking curative steps for its improvement,… billions of rupees were spent on BHIKKI and SHARAQPUR RPPs, which proved complete failures”, read Friday’s verdict.
The verdict further holds the finance ministry, WAPDA, PEPCO and GENCOs responsible for “causing huge losses to the public exchequer, which run into billions of rupees by making 7% to 14% down payments to, and purchasing electricity on higher rates, from RPPs.”

Furthermore, the bench also declares the RPPs “incapable of meeting the demand of electricity on a short term basis.”
Moreover, the SC ordered to initiate proceedings against the Former Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Asharaf and all others involved in the case.

“The contracts of RPPs are ordered to be rescinded forthwith and all the persons responsible for the same are liable to be dealt with for civil and criminal action in accordance with law”, adds the apex court’s decision.

The verdict adds: “Functionaries of PEPCO, GENCOs, PPIB and NEPRA…who had derived financial benefits from the RPPs contracts…[were] involved in corruption and corrupt practices”, and are also “liable both for civil and criminal action”.
On December 15, 2011, chief justice had taken suo motu notice on applications of Housing Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat and Khwaja Asif who alleged that corruption had been committed in the affairs of the RPPs.

On Novermber 24, 2011, Raja Pervez Asharaf told the court that Pakistan needed an addition of 1200 MW every year as the power requirement would increase to 1,30,000 MW by the year 2030.

Appearing before the two-judge bench, comprising of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, the former minister defended himself, saying the country’s power shortage solution was in in hydel power generation and not in thermal which was costly.

http://www.dawn.com/...reme-court.html

[Tarbela]

Pakistan faces a shortage of about 5,000 megawatts of power. Classified as the "best wind regimes" in the country, the energy produced at Jhimpir will go to the national grid, and be spread throughout the country, "wherever it is needed," said AEDB's spokesperson.

At the cut off wind speed of 12 meters per second or higher, the turbines stop operation, Alauddin said. The turbines also don't operate below the speed of 3.5 meters per second.

Overall, the Sindh province has the potential to produce 50,000 megawatts of wind energy, whereas the various pockets around the country can produce as much as 350,000 megawatts, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States.

Every few days, a new turbine is seen rising out of the desert-like countryside.

At the moment there are 18 private companies in the field, with projects at various stages of completion. Each project will have a generating capacity of about 50 megawatts, costing US$130 million, using different turbines. By next year, eight to 10 of these companies will be fully operational.

This means that soon the countryside will be littered with the giant towers, which will catapult Pakistan into the top 20 producers of wind energy. While work on wind energy has been going on for some years, it is only in the last three years that the sector actually went into high gear. But now Pakistan seems to be making up for the lost time.

http://www.atimes.co...a/ND05Df01.html

[Tarbela]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has planned to develop 24 power projects

LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti on Monday said that province has planned to develop 24 power projects with a cumulative generation capacity of 2,100 mega watt in next ten years to overcome energy crisis.

Addressing the National Energy Conference here, he said, “We on our part have prepared Hydel Development Action Plan 2011-2025 by taking on board all the political parties and stakeholders to ensure its continuety even after the present provincial government”. Under this action plan, he added, the projects that would substantially contribute to enhancing hydel power supply in the country, would kick start by mid this month.

He said that this action plan had been put in order to develop 24 medium-size hydel power projects with total potential of 2,100MW with a total cost of around Rs 330 billion during next ten years.

Amir Haider Khan Hoti assured that people of KPK were ready to share the energy shortfall burden of other provinces as well in the best interest of the country and its people. The people of KPK, he resolved, would continue to work and fight for the survival and advancement of Pakistan.

In his address, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah appriciated the Prime Miniter and Punjab Government for holding an opportunity rewarding National Energy Conference and said the event would help resolve the energy crisis in a more effective manner. The power shortage was affecting all sectors of life and creating economic constraints, and this situation needed to be addressed at the earliest through joint efforts for adding more mega watt power in the national grid to balance the demand and supply of electricity.
http://dawn.com/2012...-10-years-hoti/

[Tarbela]

QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani has emphasized the need to execute wind power projects on small rivers with immediate effect to resolve electricity shortage crises.
He was of the opinion that proposed project of provision of 1000 MW electricity from Iran to Pakistan through Balochistan and another proposed project of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline could cater need of energy requirement of the country.

He said that mega projects of electricity transmission lines of Dadu-Khuzdar and DG Khan-Loralai would be completed soon adding that execution of Chashma-Zhob transmission line could boost economy of Balochistan. He added that bright future of Pakistan is linked with development of Balochistan.

[Tarbela]

Pakistan’s energy crisis major hurdle in economic growth:
KARACHI: The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in a report released Wednesday, has said that Pakistan’s economy faces a major hurdle in the shape of its domestic energy crisis.

The ADB has identified rising inflation, investment decline, low tax revenue and losses at public-sector enterprises as other factors hindering economic growth.

“The economy continues to be affected by structural problems, including a domestic energy crisis, a precipitous decline in investment, persistently high inflation, and security issues. Budget deficits remain high, driven by substantial subsidies and losses at state-owned enterprises, and tax revenue below target,” says the report.

[HKK]

http://www.nation.co...coalmine-uplift



UK to invest $610m on Thar coalmine uplift

[Simpleton]

Electricity from India costlier than import from Iran

14/04/12  The electricity to be bought from India will be Rs 5 per unit costlier as compared with Iran.

According to sources, India has offered to provide 500MW of electricity at a cost of Rs 8 per unit equivalent to Pak Rs 14.08 per unit.

The import of electricity from India will be Rs 5.08 per unit costlier as compared with buying electricity from Iran.

On the other hand, the cost of per unit electricity through hydel projects is Rs 22 while the per unit power production from diesel is Rs 19.26. The electricity generated by furnace oil costs Rs 16 per unit while power generated from gas costs Rs 4.36 per unit and the electricity produced from nuclear plants costs Rs 1.21 per unit. The average cost of per unit production of electricity in Pakistan is Rs 13.50.

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The cost per unit electricity through hydel projects is always low.

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India offers electricity at Rs15 per unit
ISLAMABAD: India has offered tariff of about Rs15 per unit for sale of 500MW of electricity to Pakistan at the Wagah-Attari border that would require a total of 45 kilometres of transmission line, a government official told Dawn on Friday.

A 14-member delegation of Global Energy, a company based in New Delhi, flew into Islamabad on a special plane on Friday for three-day talks with Pakistani authorities to negotiate electricity tariff, firm up technical and transmission details and finalise a sales and purchase agreement.

A four-member team of the delegation had an opening session with Water and Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar who directed the Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA), a state-owned entity that purchases electricity from various sources and sells it to distribution companies, to negotiate tariff and other technical details of the project.

An official said the Indian company with most of its operations in Mumbai and Bangalore was acting in the project as purchaser-cum-exporter of electricity from Indian Punjab through Amritsar and delivery at Attari.

He said the company had offered an initial tariff of Indian rupees 7.5 per unit delivered on the border that translates into about Rs14.7 per unit in local currency.

He said the Indian offer was on the higher side given applicable tariff in Pakistan at less than Rs8 per unit that would be negotiated by the CPPA. However, he said that electricity produced through furnace oil, diesel and wind in Pakistan cost between Rs15 and 22 per unit on average.

Officials said that while the CPPA team would negotiate a maximum possible reduction in tariff on proposed import project but at the end of the day it would be up to economic managers and the political leadership to take a final decision on electricity import keeping in mind comparable sources of electricity available in the country.

They said the project would require a 45 kilometre of 220kv transmission line on both sides of the border, including 25 kilometres in India and 20km inside Pakistan.

If the project materialised, the CPPA would transmit electricity into national grid for onward distribution in the Lahore Electric Supply Company’s system.

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.Underground power station planned
LAHORE: Consultants hired by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) have suggested constructing a new underground hydropower station of 375 megawatts at Warsak in place of existing power house of 243MW.

However, by the time the new power station starts production, the existing power house will continue to operate, where only the most-required rehabilitation work will be done, says Wapda. The consultants, comprising a Canadian and a Pakistani firm, have been tasked to take a review of the dam, spillway and detailed engineering design of the new power station by the end of the year, which will be followed by initiation of construction work.

The need for the new power house arises as the existing one has completed about 50 years of operation and condition of its generating units have deteriorated despite extensive repair and maintenance work due to heavy sediment in water.

The power station is located on Kabul river, 30 kilometres from Peshawar. The project was completed in two phases. In the first phase, four units having cumulative capacity of 160MW were installed in 1960, while in the second phase, two more units of 83MW were added in 1981, raising the capacity to 243MW.

According to Wapda, the new 375MW project is part of a two-pronged strategy aimed at optimum utilisation of water resources to produce more low-cost electricity. Under the strategy, Wapda is constructing new hydropower projects and also rehabilitating and upgrading old power stations.

At present, Jabban and Tarbela power stations are being upgraded while feasibility study for rehabilitating and upgrading Mangla power station has been completed. The study recommends that generation capacity of Mangla can be increased to 1,310MW from existing 1,000MW.
http://tribune.com.p...tation-planned/

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Indian energy company offers technology transfer
KARACHI: An Indian investor has expressed interest in entering into joint ventures in Pakistan in the areas of transport, manufacturing industry and energy-saving in the agricultural sector.

Talking to The Express Tribune during Lifestyle Pakistan exhibition held in New Delhi about a week ago, the head of Tech Lab Auto Gas Limited, Deepak Mittal, showed interest in investing and transferring skills and technology to Pakistan’s energy sector, which would help reduce power and gas shortages.

The company can convert vehicles, generators, tube wells, fishing vessels, tractors and motorcycles from petrol and diesel to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which can save a hefty amount spent on oil imports and reduce the economic and social cost of energy crisis.

Mittal, who is an engineer, was ready to invest in upgrading the filling and fueling system of vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG).