Pakistan, as well as Bangladesh, is rationing gas and buyers across South Asia are seeking alternative fuels after spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices surged to record highs, government and industry officials told Reuters. Spot LNG prices have nearly tripled since early November as freezing temperatures across North Asia boosted demand and depleted inventories. Since July, prices are up a dizzying…
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ISLAMABAD: A Chinese iron and steel conglomerate has become the first foreign enterprise to establish its plant in the Rashakai Special Economic Zone under CPEC with a planned investment of $50 million. The SEZ Committee of Rashakai Special Economic Zone at its meeting on Friday allocated 40 acres to Century Steel Ltd owned by Fuzhou Julitaihe International Company of China,…
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ISLAMABAD: With sufficient oil-related revenue in the kitty, the government on Friday increased the prices of all petroleum products by three per cent to 6pc for the next 16 days. According to an announcement by the finance ministry, the ex-depot prices of petrol and high speed diesel (HSD) were increased by Rs3.20 and Rs2.95 per litre, respectively. The prices of…
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ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday constituted a three-member committee to probe into the major power breakdown that plunged the whole country into darkness last weekend. In a notification issued here on Thursday, Nepra said that the inquiry committee comprising two private sector experts would be required to submit a report to the regulator within 15…
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HYDERABAD: Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Sheikh has urged his federal counterpart Omar Ayub to ensure issuance of notification for five wind power projects, to be installed by independent power producers (IPPs) in the province, to encourage investors and promote clean power industry. The minister said in a letter to the federal minister on Thursday that tariffs of the…
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ISLAMABAD: In a move towards reviving the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government has decided in principle to increase the electricity rates by about Rs1.90 per unit in the current billing month. A formal announcement to this effect is expected to be made over the next couple of days. A federal minister told Dawn that a news conference had been called…
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Pakistan generates close to 50 million tonnes of solid waste per year, almost 135,000 tonnes per day. Out of this, Karachi alone produces 10% or 13,500 tonnes of solid waste per day. Most Pakistanis, and especially Karachiites, suffer from a lack of solid waste collection, where it is scattered throughout the city. But the sad reality is, even if this…
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The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed that 12 top oil importers had been responsible for creating artificial oil shortage in the country. The panel, which met under the chairmanship of Rehman Malik, at the Parliament House on Thursday, was told that the FIA had identified those involved in the malpractice. The committee was given a detailed briefing by the…
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The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) on Thursday approved the principles and implementation plan for the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM). During a meeting held under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, the Power Division presented the design of CTBCM for consideration and review. The division also apprised the committee of its…
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The whole country went into a power blackout on Sunday night. This is a technical issue requiring serious investigation and a non-political discussion and debate. Blackouts have occurred in many countries in the past including the US, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia and India etc. The latest blackout in India was in 2012, on successive days on July 30 and 31, 2012…
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