The caretaker government plans to strike a number of deals within this year for installing some power plants having the capacity of 940 megawatts, part of a big plan for resolving the nagging electricity crisis. The power ministry has submitted a work plan to the council of advisers lining up a number of projects for the deals.

The government will also start the process of signing some more deals for implementing different power projects within next five to six years, which will generate another 2300 MW electricity across the country. After implementation of the megaplan, a total of 3,835 megawatts of power will be added to the national grid, and industry insiders believe this will cost US$ 2.5 to three billion. The power ministry submitted this megaplan to the advisory council at its last meeting.

But, after a three hour brainstorming, the council of advisors could not reach concrete decision. The advisory council directed the two divisions to recast their plans and again come up with those so that power, gas and coal sectors problems could be addressed in a holistic manner.

Power division sources said as per the mega plan, the government would increase the electricity production by 478MW through rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing plants. Under the plan, 215 MW of electricity will come from ongoing projects, 260 MW through installing under process rental power plants and 5 MW through purchase from captive projects and another 200 MW from small power projects.