PM launches solar power plant in Bahawalpur
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BAHAWALPUR: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday laid the foundation stone of the country's first solar power project in Bahawalpur, DawnNews reported.
During the ceremony, the premier said that Sino-Pak friendship was exemplary, adding that the views of the Chinese ambassador on the two countries' cooperation were welcome.
He further said that the joint ventures between Pakistan and China would benefit both countries.
Premier Sharif said the support of the residents of Bahawalpur was unforgettable in making the project a possibility and also congratulated his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif, who is the chief minister of Punjab, for serving the people day in and day out.
He said the output of the solar power plant would reach 1,000 megawatts in the next two and a half years.
Sharif added that 10 power projects were also being set up in Thar.
On the criticism against his government, Prime Minister Sharif said he had faced similar criticisms while launching the motorway project during his previous tenure.
Sharif further said that since the country's inception 65 years ago Pakistan had established power projects amounting only to 23,000 MW.
He said he had yet to determine what had taken place in the country for the past 15-20 years.
Speaking about other development projects in the country, the premier said that railway tracks would be laid down between Gwadar and northern areas of the country.
Sharif said Gwadar would be made a free port city and a state of the art airport would also be established in the area.
The premier also said that women have to play their role in the development of the country.
On the country's power crisis, he said that although he could not give a time-frame to end the prevailing load-shedding in the country, the crisis would end before the current government completes its tenure.
"I have a relationship of trust with the people and cannot mislead the masses." he said.
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On DawnNews
May 09, 2014 02:30pm
Well Done Premier May Allah Help You In Your Good Work Ameen
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May 09, 2014 02:32pm
He is reduced to laying foundation stone ceremony of a little solar power plant and having photographs taken. Unheard of in any other country, where it would be just signed-off and approved by a civil servant sitting at his desk.
Does anyone here know what governance is?
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May 09, 2014 02:49pm
Good to see Prime minister being truthful when he refused to give a time frame to end power crisis.
People should be aware of the gravity of the problem.
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May 09, 2014 02:55pm
Well done. Solar is a renewable source of energy and will contribute to sustainable development of the country especially southern Punjab.
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May 09, 2014 02:58pm
solar power technology is actually very expensive.
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May 09, 2014 03:03pm
All hopes and best wishes for you Mr. PM, take Pakistan out of the mess it is in!
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May 09, 2014 03:38pm
@AJamal - was he and his brother truthful in the elections campaign?
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May 09, 2014 03:58pm
@Bilal Yes, he is doing it day in day out along with his little brother aka Khadim-e-Punjab. They both are working of taking out Punjab aka Pakistan out of the mess.
In their sight Punjab is Pakistan as they came to power because of a single unit of this federation called Pakistan. May Allah save Pakistan from such narrow minded rulers. We need a Pakistani prime minister and not Punjabi, Sindhi, Pakhtoon, Baluch etc. Prime minister.
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May 09, 2014 04:02pm
100 MW by end of this year from a Solar power plant? not possible, this is an eye wash, I bet. Solar power plants are short term expensive propositions and can not produce a 100 MW the whole year around, forget 1,000 MW, also difficult and expensive proposition to produce 11kV Electricity which could be connected to the Grid. Have these brothers checked profiles of Chinese firm providing the equipment? I am sure this is another "Bonga" strategy meant for cheap propoganda !
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May 09, 2014 04:03pm
@Bilal please don't attach false hopes
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May 09, 2014 04:21pm
@Harmony im sure a smart aleck, aka paper tiger, knows everything about governance sitting on your sofa at home. atleast the poor guy is doing something. have a little deciency you wimp!
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May 09, 2014 04:56pm
There is little doubt that the Nawaz Sharif government has geared up development but this should not be confined mostly in Punjab. The peoples of other provinces should not feel ignored. All sort of real time development is taking place in Lahore but Karachi has been left at mercy of terrorists or Rangers. The Sindh cabinet & its Chief Minister seems to have no urge or motivation to improve the lives of its residents. While the CM of Sindh has long past his working time, other PPP ministers are are planning to secure the boundaries of Sindh.
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May 09, 2014 05:09pm
@Ahmed - This
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May 09, 2014 05:26pm
Hopping for the best.
And for the criticizers of the projects, world is already way ahead in this technology. If it is coming to Pak, please let it come.
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May 09, 2014 05:28pm
Anywhere in the world people inaugurate completed projects to make a mark, but in Pakistan ulti ganga in progress, they pretend they doing so much in contrast to reality with end result of zero or near to zero. Sole purpose is only to create media news, not to address real issue to actually provide electricity to people.
All previous governments kept saying they are doing so much yet end result is big fat 0! These clowns dont know how to plan for next 20-50 years, they only interested current news without actual delivery!
Last tangible power projects Mangla and Tarbela were setup in 60's by none other than a military dictators.
Power projets added by political governments are dear thermal projects with kick backs and un sustainable tariffs that are causing more harm to Pakistan than to benefit with result of circular debt! - thats the achievement of BB and MNS in last 30 years in this sector.
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May 09, 2014 05:48pm
Wow I see good literate people falling for the trap. Please do some googling on Solar power and its efficiency. This man is just pushing us deep into the abyss.
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May 09, 2014 05:49pm
I Am not a PML (n) supporter but I support every little step towards a better Pakistan. Pakistan zindabaad!
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May 09, 2014 05:51pm
Kashmiri pehlwan confined to Punjab only
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May 09, 2014 06:00pm
We totally agree that 1000mw from solar energy is not possible, even 100mw is difficult. This type of claim is expected from Raja Ashraf but not from MNS
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May 09, 2014 06:03pm
Any idea what time will it take to complete and what amount of electricity is going to be produced ?
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May 09, 2014 06:04pm
oh, during scroll i skiped those lines. Great work !
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May 09, 2014 06:15pm
@Masoud, the developments in Lahore are done by the provincial government by its provincial funds where as the Sindh is being looted for last couple of decades. Metro bus projects, distribution of 5 lakh laptops and many more such projects are purely provincial. Don't blame the central government for that as they are doing twice as much in Sindh and other provinces as in Punjab. Major investment is now going in to energy sector and of that 2 x 660 MW at port Qasim, 2 x 660 MW at Jamshoro, 1 x 660MW at Thar and 2 x 1100MW atomic at Karachi are all in Sindh. Even 10 x 660 MW at Gadani will be to serve Karachi and Sindh. All hydro projects including Bhasha are in KPK and the biggest chines investment of road and train links will be for Balochistan. Can you tell me, what did the central government do for punjab except a 660MW in Sahiwal and a 100MW solar in Cholistan. Yes there are proposed projects of 660 MW one each in Jhang and Multan too but not on the cards yet. So please do not start this communal talk as it is totally untrue. But yes I would like Sindh to wake up and get rid of the looters. Let me also tell you that I am a PTI supporter and don't politically support MLN due to their commitments with the PPP.
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May 09, 2014 06:18pm
@Shakil Khan, The biggest part of the project was laying down infrastructure in far of Cholistan, and thats what has got completed. Putting up solar pannels is a secondary thing. Now its all ready to lay down up to 5000 MW if you wish.
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May 09, 2014 06:22pm
Nawaz Sharif has all the time to cut ribbons on projects yet to start ? He has all the time to visit foreign countries , by now more than dozen times. But he has no time to attend NA sessions , only twice in past one year and not a single time to Senate. Is he even a Pakistani PM?
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May 09, 2014 06:29pm
At least PML-N is trying their best to set up new cheaper electricity generating plants and dams. Do u remember the performance of PPP and Musharraf since 1997? PPP sold the country's future by buying electricity from IPPs.
It will be better if PTI,PPP and other parties can help in collecting electricity bills in KP,Sindh, Punjab and other provinces. If no one wants to pay the electricity bill than who is suppose to pay?
No major dam was constructed since 1967 (Tarbela dam). PML-N has started so many power projects that the country has not seen in the last 40 years!
Keep on going Mian Sahib we love you!
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May 09, 2014 06:31pm
Well done Prime Minister. I hope this all benefits the other three provinces ( Baluchistan, Sindh and KPK) of which you are not a Prime Minister of.
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May 09, 2014 08:34pm
"He said he had yet to determine what had taken place in the country for the past 15-20 years."
Mr. PM, the past five years passed under the corrupt leadership of your brother, best friend, mentor and what-not, Mr. Asif "Democracy is the best revenge" Zardari. You and your PML-N were part and parcel of that uber-corrupt regime because you refused to shoulder your responsibility of an effective opposition for the past 5 years. Your comments of concern hold no authority or value because you are as much to be blamed for the current energy crisis and law-and-order situation as the previous regime.
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May 09, 2014 08:58pm
Inaugurating is easy, Nawaz Sahib. Tell us if you ever completed any project so launched?
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May 09, 2014 09:10pm
The whole country will benefit from this solar power plant. All power plants are connected to the national grid and the electricity generated becomes available to the whole country irrespective of the location where it is set up. The selection of Cholistan desert is good for this type of plant.
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May 09, 2014 09:59pm
Nawaz Sharif is far more competent a leader. Sure, Imran Khan is finding his footing but he doesn't understand the business world as well as Nawaz Sharif who is a businessman himself. It is no wonder Pakistan is progressing under his leadership.
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May 09, 2014 10:24pm
@AJamal "Good to see Prime minister being truthful when he refused to give a time frame to end power crisis. People should be aware of the gravity of the problem."
He said: the crisis would end before the current government completes its tenure.
Doesn't this mean before the next election? Am I the only one paying attention here?
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May 09, 2014 10:45pm
@IN YOUR FACE
I don't how many middle class pay Taxes, forget the poor people. I am keeping mouth shut mainly I am not expert in solar energy and they are not asking any money from me.
I am already took lot from Pakistan in the form of free college and university education, so even I pay a little for this project I don't mind .
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May 09, 2014 10:58pm
@Shakil Khan ,
please don't get into a negative frame of mind.This is just a beginning and even 100 MW is ok if not 1000 MW, who knows in next 10 years solar technology will evolve so much that even 10000 MW will be possible.So, however little contribution of MW in the starting, must be appreciated
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May 10, 2014 12:24am
That's right. There is no way 100MW Solar Power Plant can be erected by the end of the year. It takes a minimum of 2-3 years or more to install such a large solar project. These people do not have a clue what they are talking about. Just showing it for political puposes, nothing else.
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May 10, 2014 12:28am
@Ahmer Motorway?
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May 10, 2014 01:52am
@amd I am not in negative frame of mind, I wish every success to any project that is good for Pakistan!
But I have seen these goons only deceiving people, they start projects for commissions, cancel previous governments projects so they can get new commissions. Motive is to make money, not to deliver or think about Pakistan and its people.
They are responsible for expensive furnace oil and gas plants at highest tariffs possible even if they dont generate power, they are paid by public money. Look closely, you will find all business associates of PPP and PMLn got these IPP deals!
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May 10, 2014 02:08am
@Salma well said. I second you.
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May 10, 2014 03:12am
@IN YOUR FACE
In California Mojavi desert, the world's biggest solar energy farm is getting close to completion which will provide more than 3000MW of clean energy to LA and suburbs. Now go and wash your face to figure out that we are living in 2014 not 1990. The price of solar panels in last 5 yrs has dropped to almost 1/10th and become very feasible to provide affordable and long term energy for areas with plenty of sunshine through out the year like California or South Punjab. I am very glad Govt is taking initiatives for renewable energy sources like solar and wind along with the ones based on fossil fuel.
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May 10, 2014 07:32am
Great work Mr Sharif hopefully load shedding will soon be over and this country will become the country of lights:)
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May 10, 2014 11:59pm
solar power is awfully expensive. solar cell technology isn't mastered yet. best of solar cells convert less than 15% of solar energy as electricity, will be surprised if chinese solar cells does half of it. solar cell electricity production quality degrades quickly with time. the chinese are using pakistan as dumping ground for their solar products. it certainly is a bad decision amid acute power shortage
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May 11, 2014 02:24am
@Salma Do you have figures of kick backs taken in Metro Bus & Laptop Schemes alone, don't tel me about few Reports publicized recently stamping NO CORRUPTION.
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May 11, 2014 04:39pm
This is nothing but gimmicks.
Solar power plants r designed for reducing the peak demands (like early morning n afternoons) bec that's all they can deliver.. So sun at night. N u can't store that massive energy in batteries..
Just to give a simple cost estimate -
A 100 MW plant roughly costs around 300 to 400 Million Dollars..
So forget about 1000MW plants LOL..
Nuthin much gimmicks..
The best solution is the installation of "Solar Thermal " Plants - They hv the capacity to run 24/7. The liquid heated by the concentrated solar reflector r stored n is used all day n night for power generation (the super heated liquid boils the water n in turns creates steam to run turbines for electric generation)
Pak must invest in Solar thermal to get rid of the prevailing power crisis..
N put Solar Photo Voltaic plans for housing n businesses as well for further reduction in peak hours generations (Net metering plans for housing n businesses)
Not just utility scales the ones which the Gov is doing for PV...we need both, utility n housing/business
Solar thermal + solar PV along with Wind r excellent forms of sustainable n renewable energy. We need proper energy mix n integration for best results
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May 11, 2014 06:33pm
It is good to know that Solar Energy will be in place thanks to China. However, is there any facility to transfer of technology like making solar Cells to produce Solar Energy.
Buying the ready made Solar Cells from China will be expensive. It will save lots of money to produce locally.
The know how will also create jobs in the country and reduce the unemployment.
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