Jury still out on mega-solarisation of tube wells

solarisation-project

ISLAMABAD: A mega scheme to solarise 100,000 tube wells across Pakistan, at the cost of about Rs370 billion, has drawn cautious appraisals from experts who term it a ‘double-edged sword’. Towards the end of his tenure, then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the scheme, but the PC-1 of the umbrella project was only approved this month. As its cost is shared between…

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‘Use of renminbi to help trade with China’

state-bank

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad said on Friday using the renminbi (RMB) for settling cross-border trade and investment transactions with China can further strengthen the long-lasting economic and financial ties. Addressing a ceremony on promoting the use of RMB in cross-border settlement organised by ICBC Bank Ltd, Mr Ahmad said the SBP has put in place…

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Thar coal suitable for surface gasification, liquid and urea conversion, report says

coal

KARACHI: Thar coal, a lignite coal found in Pakistan’s Thar desert, can be converted into gas, liquid and urea through surface gasification, according to a study by the Sindh Coal Authority (SCA). The study, which was initiated by the SCA to evaluate the viability of Thar coal for its conversion to gas, liquid and urea, collected coal samples from Thar…

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Rs210bn RLNG to be diverted to domestic sector

lng-3

ISLAMABAD: To ensure gas availability for eight hours to residential consumers in the current winter season, the government will divert the costly Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) worth Rs210 billion to the domestic sector. Unlike the last four years, this time around the the Rs210 billion cost of RLNG diversion will be recovered from the consumers through the new pricing…

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Pak-China trade agreements to create employment, economic opportunities in GB: PM

Anwaarul-Haq

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday said the recently signed accords between Pakistan and China would open up new opportunities of employment and economic development for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The prime minister expressed the views in a meeting with Chief Minister GB Gulbar Khan at the PM House. They discussed the memorandum of understanding signed during the…

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NEECA asks Punjab, KP to establish their EE&C agencies

Power-generation

ISLAMABAD: National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) has urged Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to expedite process to establish their own Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Agencies to contribute in efforts to conserve energy. Managing Director, NEECA, Dr Sardar Mohazzam in separate letters to Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has stated that the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation…

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Proposed increase in gas tariff not to affect 57% consumers, help stop increase in circular debt: Energy Minister

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 26 (APP): Minister for Energy Muhammad Ali on Thursday said the proposed increase in gas tariff would not affect 57 percent of consumers across the country rather it would help control and end the ever-increasing circular debt of the petroleum sector.“It will be a big achievement,” the minister said in a media briefing on the gas prices’ revision…

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Gas supply may be limited to eight hours a day in winter

secure-gas

ISLAMABAD: The recent surge in gas prices would be instrumental in curbing the gas sector’s circular debt, which has swelled to Rs2,100 billion, Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali said on Thursday but painted a bleak picture for the coming winter, with gas supply duration limited to just eight hours a day. Briefing the media, Mr Ali said that the current…

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Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang dies at 68

Li-Keqiang

Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang, a reform-minded bureaucrat once tipped as the country’s future leader only to be eclipsed by President Xi Jinping, died on Friday. He was 68. He had a heart attack on Thursday and passed away in Shanghai just after midnight, state-run news agency Xinhua said. Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said he was “deeply saddened and shocked”…

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