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| QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Suspected tribal rebels blew up a gas
pipeline in Pakistan's troubled southwest on Sunday, shutting supplies
to a U.S.- and British-owned power plant for the third time this
month, police said. The blast damaged a 24-inch diameter pipeline in Naseerabad district in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, cutting off the gas supply to the nearby Uch private power plant. "It is the third time in this month that terrorists have blown up this pipeline," a local police official told Reuters, referring to Baluch militants. He said 586-megwatt Uch power plant would remain closed until the pipeline, which is not owned by the power plant, was repaired, but did not say how long this would take. Officials of the Uch power plant were not immediately available for comment. The main shareholders of the Uch plant are Britain's International Power Plc, and U.S. firms Tenaska Inc and GE Capital. It sells electricity to Pakistan's state-run Water and Power Development Authority. Tribal militants have frequently targeted gas facilities in the province, which is home to the Sui fields, Pakistan's main natural gas source. The Pakistani military launched a major crackdown against militants in Baluchistan after a rocket attack on Dec. 14 during a visit by President Pervez Musharraf to the town of Kohlu. Baluch nationalists say almost 200 people have been killed in the crackdown. The government has not commented on casualties but analysts say the figure could be exaggerated. © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved. |
