KP CM calls for greater provincial share in hydel power, natural resources

PESHAWAR, Sep 01 (APP):Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi here Tuesday called for the protection of the province’s constitutional rights over its hydropower and natural resources, saying that the province is generating significant energy for the country, and people of KP needed to be provided fair share of the benefits.

He made the remarks while presiding over a meeting on ongoing projects and key matters of the energy and power department.

The chief minister said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s hydropower, oil, gas and LPG resources were playing an important role in meeting the country’s energy needs.

The province was supplying more than 70 percent of the country’s total hydel power generation to the national grid.

However, he said, the absence of a provincial transmission line had forced Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to sell the electricity.

The meeting was informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was developing its own provincial transmission and grid system to ensure reliable electricity transmission and meet the requirements of industry.

The chief minister directed officials to present the provincial transmission line project at an investors’ conference.

Described the project as highly profitable, he said several countries were interested in investing in it.

According to the briefing, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces around 530 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, while its daily consumption stands at approximately 200 million cubic feet.

The briefing further said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produces around 850 tonnes of LPG per day against daily consumption of approximately 600 tonnes. The province also contributes 48 percent of the country’s crude oil production and 38 percent of its LPG production.

Sohail Afridi directed officials to raise the province’s rights with the federal government through a strong and formal mechanism.