The US Congress has released 280 million dollars as new US assistance to support Pakistan’s energy sector, said US Embassy here on Friday.

The funds will support improvement of Mangla Dam and infrastructure support and due diligence work of the Kurram Tangi Dam project.

The US efforts to fund large-scale infrastructure are expected to add 900 megawatts to the national grid by 2013, enough energy to provide power to two million households and businesses.

“This is the latest example of the US long-term and enduring support for Pakistan’s energy sector and for the people of Pakistan”, said US Embassy spokesman Mark Stroh, adding that “relieving Pakistan’s energy crisis is the top priority of our civilian assistance programme.”

The release of the fund is followed by singing of a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and US to facilitate the Nato supplies opened after seven-month blockade in the wake of Salala incident.

The spokesman said that US approach consisted of high-impact projects aimed at increasing Pakistan’s energy resources and helping power sector institutions more effectively to meet the country’s energy needs. “Our institutional support ranges from improving the governance of the power sector to strengthening the performance of Pakistan’s power distribution companies”, the spokesman said, adding, “we are helping develop new policies to rationalise pricing, reduce subsidies, increase revenues, and improve the distribution of energy resources.”

Besides, he said US also worked with private sector entities and civil society organisations to enhance their role in decision-making and advocacy.

Giving a breakup of on-going projects supported by the US, he said Gomal Zam Dam would generate 17.4 megawatts of hydroelectric power and was enough to supply electricity to 30,000 households – and irrigate almost 200,000 acres of land worked by 30,000 farmers.

The Satpara Dam, which will provide 17.7 megawatts of power to the local grid, is enough to supply electricity to 30,000 households – and mitigate flooding, provide water for irrigation, and serve as a significant source of drinking water.

The Muzaffargarh Power Station will increase the generation capacity of the power station by 475 megawatts and supply electricity to about 680,000 households.  The Jamshoro Power Station project would enable the station to restore at least 150 megawatts of power generation capacity and supply electricity to about 215,000 households, and the Tarbela Dam modernisation project would add 128 megawatts to power generation capacity, he added. Copyrights Business Recorder