QUETTA, (TLTP)   -  While taking up a plea seeking commencement of much-awaited 300MW electricity coal-fired power plant project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gwadar and connectivity of 100MW imported electricity from Iran to national grid, the Balochistan High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) in the matter.

Vice Chairman Balochistan Bar Council Qasim Ali Gajizai has invoked the jurisdiction of the BHC with a plea that inhabitants of Turbat and Makran divisions are passing through miserable situation due to low voltages and continuous load shedding in the coastal areas. He sought the court’s directives to the concerned authorities to take measures for uninterrupted power supply in the vicinity.

Appearing before a two-member bench of the Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Abdul Hameed Baloch, the petitioner’s counsel Advocate Saleem Lashari contended that approximately half a million population is facing continuous load shedding and low voltage issues. He requested the court to issue directives to the people at the helm of affairs to pay heed to utilise coastal areas for wind energy generation in addition to build infrastructure to inject imported 100 MW electricity from Iran to national grid at the earliest.

During the proceedings, XEN Turbat Ali Magsi informed the bench that before 2002, power houses run by diesel were functional in Mand, Tump, Turbat Panjgur, Gwadar, Jiwani, Pishan, Pasni, Kalmat and Omara. He submitted these power houses were generating sufficient electricity for the residents of the respective areas, adding, but all the power houses, except the power house of Kalmat have become non-functional and Makran Division has not been connected for supply of electricity with the national grid till date. Presently the only source for providing electricity to Makran Division is from Iran with which the government of Pakistan had entered into an agreement in the year 2001 for supply of 100 MW electricity for Makran Division. Few month back due to some technical fault, the electricity supply from Iran was discontinued which created power crises in Makran Division due to which the people of the area had suffered adversely; that for the last two days the electricity supply from Iran has been restored and presently 80/90 MW electricity is being supplied from Iran due to which the load shedding timings have also been reduced in Makran Division. 

Responding to the query of the court, the officer submitted that China has planned a power house for generating 300 MW electricity by using coal fire in Gawadar but the project has not yet commenced. Officer informed that according to his information plan for supply of electricity to Makran through National grid was approved but no progress has been made for the same till date. 

Advocate Lashri submitted that according to his information feasibility study for solar energy power stations was also conducted for Makran Division but the same has not been materialized. He further apprised the bench that coastal area wind can also be used for generation of electricity. 

To which the bench directed the office to issue notice to the Ministry of Water and Power Islamabad/Energy Power Division to depute an officer well conversant with relevant facts to appear before this court on the next date. The bench also issued notice to Secretary Energy Department, Government of Balochistan to appear in person on the next date with relevant updates and suggestions. Besides, the court also issue notice to Muhammad Arif CEO QESCO to appear in person on the next date with relevant updates with regard to supply of electricity to Quetta City and load shedding in Quetta City. Notice to also issue to the Executive of Habibullah Coastal Power Project to appear before this court on the next date. 

Notice was also issued to Shouqat Jogezai Operation Director QESCO and Raay Partab XEN(PDC) QESCO to appear before the court with relevant updates about load shedding schedules for Makran division and Quetta city. 

Later, the bench adjourned hearing of the matter till September 23,2021. TLTP