ISLAMABAD: The government’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is set to play a key role in resolving issues hindering the connection of Lucky Cement’s 25 MW plant to the National Grid, particularly in securing cooperation from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), sources informed Newzshewz on Saturday.
Lucky Cement’s Director of Government Relations and Affairs (GR&A), Major General Tariq Zamir (retired), had sought support from the SIFC, which has since engaged with all relevant provincial and federal stakeholders on the matter.
According to the communication, Lucky Cement Limited applied for a 25 MW electric connection with PESCO on December 11, 2021, for its plant in Pezu, district Lakki Marwat. All formalities and payments related to this connection have been completed. However, the company has been following up with PESCO for the past four years to expedite the connection.
The company states that the grid station on its premises is complete and awaiting connection to the National Grid. In total, 33 poles are needed to connect Lucky Cement to the main line. The foundations for 31 of these poles have been completed, with the remaining two foundations still pending. One is located next to a road on government land, while the other is on private land. Lucky Cement has been working to resolve land access issues for the installation of poles, but the landowner of the last pole has made unreasonable demands.
“We need the support of local authorities, including the District Commissioner (DC) and police, to resolve these issues and finalize the installation of the poles. Once the foundations for the last two poles are completed, the installation of all 33 poles needs to be expedited,” the company said.
Additionally, Lucky Cement highlighted that the third part of the project involves the completion of the line bay by PESCO. The civil work for the line bay is complete, but the installation of electrical components remains.
“If PESCO accelerates its efforts, the entire project can be completed in just a few weeks. We request influence on PESCO to expedite this process. Lucky Cement is committed to providing any support needed to complete the connection,” stated the company’s Director of GR&A.
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