Pakistan urged to resolve issues with Chinese power firms

China urged Pakistan to resolve the issues with Chinese enterprises involved in energy cooperation.

Wu, head of a Chinese delegation at the 2nd and final round of Pak-China Joint Energy Working Group, expressed serious reservations of Chinese manufacturing company Dong Fang in context of more than 40,000 tonnes heavy machinery and equipment having Cost and Freight cost of $85 million for 450 megawatts Nandipur Hydropower project, which has been detained at the Karachi port since last two years.

He further maintained that Pakistani authorities should consider seriously the concerns of Dong Fang and should take measures on war footing basis to release the machinery and equipments and resolve the issue of demurrage charges.

Federal Minister of Water and Power Naveed Qamar, chair of the meeting to review the financial and other aspects of projects related to energy cooperation, assured the Chinese official of complete support to Chinese entrepreneurs, who have been interested or involved in joint energy development projects.

In a joint statement of Pakistan and Chinese energy managers, Wu said that ongoing energy crisis in Pakistan could be resolved my mutual energy cooperation of both sides.

"We believe energy cooperation between Pakistan and China should continue and future of both is bright."

Wu said that Chinese authorities gave positive response in context of financing different mega and small energy power projects including 969 MW Neelum Jehlum Hydropower Project costing $3.6 billion, 1,100 MW Kohala Hydropower Project costing $2.2 billion as well as more than 17 other hydro, renewable and clean energy hydro power projects.

GENCO Holding Company's Naveed Ismail apologised to the Chinese authority on behalf of the federal government of Pakistan, Pakistan Electric Power Company and GENCO over concerns raised by Chinese enterprise
Dong Fang involved in Nandipur Hydropower project and assured to resolve the grievances of partners.

He added that the power sector is fully involved with the Ministry of Finance to resolve the issue of demurrage charges, adding 'within the next few days, a summary will be sent to the Economic Coordination Committee meeting to waive off the charges and hope so it would be resolved till August 2012'.