ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday welcomed arrival of the second Turkish powership and said that the project will contribute to the power generation in Karachi and help in reducing power shortage. He said this while talking to a Turkish delegation of Karkey Karadeniz Powership along with Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Babar Hizlan who called on Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf here.The Minister said that the powership will not only stable the power supply to Karachi even save fuel transport cost and eliminate the transmission losses. He said that Pepco has been asked to complete the procedural connectivity requirements at the earliest so that the ship may start generation within two weeks.He said that the power ship will further strengthened the brotherly relations between the two countries and it is the symbol of friendship and brotherhood. He said that the Turkish investors will be facilitated in all respect and their investment will be protected.
While talking to the Minister the Turkish ambassador said that the Turkish President, the Government and its people are eagerly waiting for supply of electricity from the ship to the people of Karachi. He said that the Turkish government is fully supporting the investment and hoped that it will give relief to the power consumers.Earlier, the Director of Karkey Karadeniz Powership, Nuray Atacik briefed the minister on the project and current status and said that the additional capacity would be instrumental to meet the needs of industrial sector and manufacturing units of Karachi in case of any shortfall in the coming summer.
She said that first powership of 220 MW had arrived in Karachi on November 17, 2010, while the second powership Alican Bey of 110 MW has also reached Karachi recently that would ensure additional capacity to the project, under “Power of Friendship, Power of Brotherhood” project.She said in demonstration of solidarity of Turkish investors with their brothers in Pakistan, Karkey has dedicated an impressive installed capacity of a total 330MWs to Pakistan out of its worldwide fleet of powerships.The interconnection between Karkey and Karachi has been commissioned while the Alican Bey is being connected. Karkey has completed its test generation, she added.Nuray said that Karkey powership rental project is expected to allow the government of Pakistan to save up to Rs. 6 billion a year (saving of fuel transport cost and elimination of transmission losses as providing additional secure generation capacity to Karachi and subsequently to the rest of the country – APP
