Country has the capacity of production of 60 thousand megawatts of hydel energy: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has stressed upon the need of fully tapping coal, wind, solar and hydel energy potential of the country to meet energy needs and reducing dependency on import of crude oil for energy purposes. He said that Pakistan's development and progress will move forward in result of solar, wind and hybel energy projects, adding that we could save billion of dollars which are being spent on import of crude oil and petroleum products. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that this is the only way by following which we could make progress. He said that Almighty Allah has blessed us with the enormous natural resources in Thar, adding that Thar coal could play its role in progress and development of Pakistan for hundreds of years.

PM Shhebaz Sharif was addressing the inaugural ceremony of K-3 unit of the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant built in partnership with China in Karachi on Thursday.

The Prime Minister said the project will help in meeting energy needs of the country. He said the country has the capacity of production of 60 thousand megawatts (MW) of hydel energy.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said work on Diamer Basha Dam and Dasu Dam was underway which will take time to complete. He said all these power projects including Karachi Nuclear power Project, Diamer Bhasha Dam and Dasu Dam were initiated by former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The Prime Minister said there are huge coal reserves in Thar, enough to meet energy needs of the country for centuries. He said by tapping available cheap energy resources of coal, solar and wind energy dependence on import of crude oil could be reduced which cost 27 billion dollars.

He expressed the determination that CPEC projects slowed in the recent past will be accelerated to benefit the people.

Lauding the cooperation of friendly country China for the Karachi Nuclear power project, the prime minister said Pakistan and China are time tested friends and friendship between two have been strengthened in the last 75 years.

The Prime Minister congratulated the team and management of the KNUPP for their tireless efforts in completing the project that will help in meeting energy needs of the country.

PM Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that the electricity projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor were greatly contributing to the country's energy demands through the production of thousands of megawatts.

Director General International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi in a video message emphasized the importance of using safe use of nuclear energy as Pakistan faced challenges of climate change.

Chairman Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Raja Ali Raza Anwar said National Electric Power Regulatory Authority had declared KANUP as a high power producing facility with its 27.15 percent production.

With the introduction of K-3 into the national grid, the share of nuclear power in the energy mix of Pakistan will exceed 10 per cent, according to a press release.

A new era in the nuclear power development programme of Pakistan commenced with the signing of the 'Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy' between the governments of China and Pakistan in 1986.

However, the first concrete step was taken 30 years ago when China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) signed the contract for the construction and installation of a 325-megawatt Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) at Chashma on December 31, 1991.

The cooperation strengthened with the construction of three more nuclear power plants at Chashma Nuclear Power Generation Station (CNPGS) site. The contract for the construction of two more units having a generation capacity of 1100 megawatts each near Karachi was signed on February 18, 2013.