ANKARA – In order to chart out ways for close collaboration in the energy sector, Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to form a technical working group in the energy sector.

Leading a three-member delegation, Water & Power Secretary Saifullah Chatha discussed this during his meetings with Turkish officials. The senior government official team is visiting Turkey on the instruction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in order to learn from the Turkish experience in privatization of electricity sector.

While Pakistan has plans to privatize hydal projects, Turkey has successfully made 100% privatization of the power distribution companies and created a multi-buyer and multi-sector electricity market. The delegation held extensive meeting with Turkish Ministry of Energy & Natural Resources Secretary Metin Kilci who offered to help Pakistan in organising a road show in Turkey.

In the show, Pakistan could sensitize entrepreneurs about the privatization plans and would showcase potential projects in the hydel, coal and renewable energy sector to Turkish investors. Metin said that Turkey generated about $50 billion from power sector privatization. As a result of privatization, public sector is saving over $10 billion per annum which were earlier losses of the power sector entities.

Similarly, line losses were also reduced substantially in the post-privatization era, he said. State Hydraulic Works Deputy Director General Yakup Baoulu during the meeting said that Turkish entrepreneurs have great experience in hydel projects and while Turkey would soon utilize its full potential in the sector, Turkish investors shall be interested in such projects in Pakistan.

Privatization Administration President Ahmet Aksu gave an extensive briefing regarding power sector privitization. He also offered to share the relevant legal framework whereby Turkey was successful in privatizing its energy sector. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey Muhammad Haroon Shaukat, Chief Engineering Advisor of ministry Asjad Imtiaz Ali and Alternate Energy Development Board’s Energy Management Director General Musaddiq Ahmed Tahirkheli also attended the meetings.

The Pakistan delegation will also hold parleys with the executives of Turkish companies in the renewable energy sector in Istanbul to review progress on the ongoing Turkish projects in Pakistan and discuss new initiatives.

Source: Daily Times