A USAID project repairing the thermal power station in Muzaffargarh will increase energy production by 400 Megawatts, providing enough energy for more than 500,000 homes in Southern Punjab.
According to a statement released from US Embassy in Islamabad here,
In a visit to the station on Wednesday, United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) Director for Pakistan Andrew Sisson,
reviewed progress on the project, which was originally announced by
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of a broader USAID
program to help Pakistan improve its energy supply.
“Muzaffargarh is part of Pakistan’s vital infrastructure that will
once again generate energy for your industries, for your businesses,
and for your homes. I am happy to hear that the plant has already
regained some of its power generation capacity,” said USAID Director
for Pakistan Andrew Sisson during the visit.
In addition to Muzaffargarh, USAID is helping to repair the thermal
plants in Jamshoro, as well the Tarbela hydro-plant. USAID is also
funding the completion of the Gomal Zam and Satpara dams, as well as
the replacement of 11,000 tubewells with more energy-efficient
models.Together, these projects will add an estimated 700 MW power to
the national grid, which will address nearly 15 percent of Pakistan’s
current energy shortage, by the end of 2012.
At Muzaffargharh alone, USAID-funded repairs will restore at least
400 MW of capacity that the plant had lost due to deferred maintenance
and reduced fuel efficiency. The additional power will provide
electricity for more than 500,000 households.Renovation of the first
two power generation units has already been completed, and the
remaining four will be finished by the end of the year.
The repair project has already benefited local residents, many of
whom have gotten jobs through the USAID-funded repairs activities. The
people of the Multan region are proud of the plant and the role it
plays in building the economy of Pakistan. “I’m glad that we are able
to get such positive results at such a critical time,” said Mr. Sisson. SANA
