US govt project in Jamshoro generates power for 4.3 m Pakistanis
- September 26, 2013, 7:43 pm
- Business News
- 254 Views
Islamabad, September 26 (Online): The US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson visited the Jamshoro Thermal Power Station (JTPS), which was recently upgraded with $19.3 million in US assistance.
The Jamshoro plant will now provide an additional 270 megawatts of power to the national grid, enough to provide electricity to nearly 4.3 million more Pakistanis.
The visit of U.S. Ambassador Olson, US Consul General in Karachi Michael Dodman, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gregory Gottlieb, and other senior US government officials to JTPS reaffirms the US government’s commitment to strengthening public-owned power sector entities.
Sultan Zafar, CEO of Genco Holding Company Limited, Anwar Brohi, CEO of Jamshoro Power Company Limited, and other Government of Pakistan representatives toured JTPS with the US delegation.
“The United States’ commitment to Pakistan’s energy needs is long term and it delivers results. Jamshoro is just one example of how the United States and Pakistan continue to partner to help Pakistan grow,†said Ambassador Olson. “Together, we are responding to Pakistan’s energy crisis. And we are working together to develop a partnership that delivers for the people of Pakistan and beyond.â€
The United States, via USAID, provided $19.3 million to rehabilitate JTPS. Work began in June 2010 to upgrade the plant, restoring 150 megawatts of power generating capacity that the plant had lost as a result of deferred maintenance and reduced fuel efficiency.
The repairs exceeded project targets and now a total of 270 megawatts has been added to Pakistan’s national electrical grid as a result.
In addition to Jamshoro, the U.S. government, via USAID, is supporting the rehabilitation of thermal plants at Muzaffargarh and Guddu, as well as the Tarbela hydro-plant. USAID has also funded the completion of Gomal Zam and Satpara dams.
Collectively, these projects have added more than 1000 megawatts to Pakistan’s electrical grid – enough to supply power for 16 million Pakistani citizens. The US government also continues to support energy sector governance and policy reform.
