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‘Pakistan can overcome blackouts by next year’

WASHINGTON: Pakistan can overcome its power crisis by next summer if energy prices are fixed at cost recovery rates, US International Energy Affairs Coordinator David Goldwyn said on Thursday.

He also noted the country had all other factors in place to address its energy needs, such as natural resources, expertise and a sound roadmap.

The State Department energy coordinator, who led the US delegation at a three-day intensive dialogue with Pakistani officials last month, also revealed the Asian Development Bank would provide $3 billion to bolster Pakistan's energy situation through improvement in such areas as dam extensions, expansion of energy generation, laying of new transmission lines and bringing more efficiency to the system.

He hoped that Islamabad would be able to implement a plan to generate an additional 2,500 megawatts of electricity from various projects that would help it avoid load shedding by next summer.

"Everything flows from pricing and that is the biggest challenge facing Pakistan," he said.

The US coordinator said Pakistani officials agreed on the importance of having power rates that recover power generation costs. Goldwyn said the country’s leadership was committed to improving the energy sector.

"We are convinced Pakistan has very solid plans to address their energy requirements. We have seen strong commitments from them and if they make hard choices, they will restore stability to the energy system," Goldwyn said, adding that utilising natural gas could help Pakistan fulfil its energy requirements. app

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