ISLAMABAD: Electricity tariff in Pakistan is highest as compare to other South East Asian countries, it was revealed in written reply by Ministry of Water and Power over a query of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member, Nafisa Khan.
In a written reply, Federal Minster Khawaja Asif informed that production, structure and transmission cost and losses during the distribution of electricity are the reason behind high tariff of electricity in the country.
He said hydro power is the cheapest way of power generation but it is not enough to fulfill the growing demand of electricity.
Thus, thermal power generation has been used to fulfill the demand in the country, he added. However, gas is also cheapest way of electricity generation but it is not available in enough quantity to meet the demand in the country, he said.
The Minister said use of costly furnace oil is the main reason increasing the power tariff in the country.
Khwaja Asif further elaborated that furnace oil cost in the year 2006 to 2007 was 20604 rupees per metric ton and now in the year 2013-2014 it has reached to 72134 rupees.
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had informed regarding power generation through various ways in 2013-2014 that hydro power generates 34%, furnace oil 35% and gas 23%.
So power tariff with respect to the various generation separately are as 0.08\ kwh rupee for hydro power, 18.25 rupees for furnace oil, 5.58 rupees for gas.
The Minster said the comparison showed that power generation through furnace oil so higher than hydro power which is the key reason behind increase in power tariff.
He also said that government has been trying to increase proportion of cheap electricity through alternative energy development board, adding that WAPDA has been working on a master plan through which new hydro power projects would be started.
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