Twenty Pakistani engineers,  including five women from power generation companies nationwide, received certificates today for completing a thermal operations and maintenance training program funded by the U.S. government.   Since March, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided training to 60 engineers from Jamshoro, Guddu and Muzaffargarh thermal power plants. The training enhanced the engineers’ technical skills and introduced them to industry best practices to improve the operation, maintenance, and management of power plants.

 

Deputy Director of USAID’s Energy Office Tim Moore, who spoke at the event said, “The U.S. government is committed to working with the Government of Pakistan to develop and upgrade Pakistan’s energy infrastructure. Strengthening the capacity of power sector engineers through this training is a significant element of that effort.”  Organized by USAID’s Energy Policy Program, the training program is an important component of a broader power sector capacity building project.  The program is part of the U.S. government’s commitment to support Pakistan’s own efforts to increase power generation, improve its energy efficiency, transmission, fuel supply infrastructure, and engage in policy reform.

 

As part of its energy sector assistance program, USAID has funded renovations at Tarbela, Jamshoro, Mangla, Guddu, and Muzzafargharh power plants; aided the completion of Gomal Zam and Satpara dams; and helped improve power distribution throughout Pakistan. The projects have already added more than 1000 megawatts of power to Pakistan’s national grid, with a cumulative target of 1400 megawatts by the end of 2014 -- enough to benefit about 16 million people throughout the country.