SLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf once again claimed on Sunday that the prevalent power crisis in the country will be reduced within a month as water inflow in dams will increase and a few of IPPs will start operating.

Ashraf was talking to the media during his visit to National Power Control Centre. He blamed less rains for the low generation of electricity and the early heat wave for the increased demand.

According to the minister, the current electricity demand is around 15,000 megawatts whereas the generation is only 10,000 megawatts.

He hinted that some new independent power plants including Saif Power, Engro, and Orient will be operational in a month period.

Ashraf also said that rental power plants will start generating before December this year. However, he said that contracts with two rental power plants, which were installed during the pervious government, have been cancelled.

According to Ashraf, the two rental plants were not operation due to non-availability of gas but the government was paying $600,000 per month to these two rental power plants.