Prime Minister's Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Bir Bikram on Sunday said that the government was
contemplating to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal to install four
coal based power plants and five mega gas-fired power plants to reduce
electricity crisis in the country.
He told this to reporters at the Zia International Airport prior to departure
to UK for participating in a road show in England for foreign direct investment
(FDI) in power sector. Nine officials accompanied him to attend the two day
long London road show on December 15 to 16.
We face a shortfall of 500MW to 600 MW of electricity everyday due to gas
crisis, the adviser said.
"Due to gas crisis, the government is planning to import LNG for
electricity generation," he said, adding, "To establish four
coal-fired power plants having capacity of 400MW each, the government has also
planned to import coal outside the country.
The government has planned to install three combined cycle power plants having
capacity of 1125MW, two peaking power plants of 100MW each, 2000MW to 2600MW
capacity of imported coal based power plants and renewable energy based power
plant having capacity of 110MW, Power Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
