The present
Government while taking prompt steps for eliminating the electricity
shortage has made a number of decisions and executed many projects
accordingly. These are now bearing fruits and the country is about to enter
into an era of abundance of electricity for public and economy. However,
we are cognizant of the fact that there are still complex issues in the
sector which require further work and diligence.
The
Government is assessing the power sector issues in its entirety and will soon
come up with a comprehensive plan for future course of action. This was
said by the Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari
while presiding over 11th meeting of Private Power and
Infrastructure Board held here today. He said that the Power Division is assessing
and analyzing the demand & supply scenarios and evaluating the ground
situation to prepare future course of action for power sector.
The Board was
briefed that in order to further ensure the elimination of load shedding
and have some backup for unforeseen outages, CCE has approved 1250 MW
RLNG based power generation project near Trimmu Barrage in District Jhang,
Punjab.
This project
having estimated cost of US$ 802 million was approved in today’s meeting
for further processing.The project is targeted to start generating power in
simple cycle mode by December 2018. The Board also decided to advertise
132 MW Rajdhani Hydropower Project on Poonch River in AJ&K under the
provisions of Power Policy 2015. Setting up of hydropower projects will
improve energy mix in the country and reduce dependence on imported fuels.
The establishment of this project will also be instrumental in generating
economic activities as well as creating employment opportunities for the
people of the area. The Board was informed the hydropower has been the top
priority of PPIB. Currently, 4 projects of approximately 1850 MW are under
construction while another 1124 MW Kohala Hydropower Project will achieve
Financial Close early next year.In order to facilitate the Sponsors in the
implementation of their project the Board allowed extension in signing of
project agreements (IA and TSA) to Pak Matiari-Lahore Transmission
Company (Pvt)
Limited which is developing first ever private transmission line project of
the country and will also be the first ever HVDC transmission line in
Pakistan i.e. +660kV Matiari-Lahore Transmission Project having designed
capacity of transmitting electricity of 4000 MW. The Project is being
sponsored by China Electric Power Equipment & Tech. Co.
Ltd (CET) a subsidiary of State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. This project is of great national importance as it is aimed to evacuate electricity from upcoming coal based power projects which are located in southern parts of country.
Managing Director Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza briefed the Board on various power generation projects which include CPEC and non-CPEC projects being handled by PPIB, while overall situation of the country’s demand-supply also came under discussion. Mr. Mirza briefed that currently PPIB is handling portfolio of thirty two IPPs of more than 20500 MW which are based on hydro, coal & RLNG fuels plus a +660kV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project out of which twelve projects of around 11000 MW and Transmission Line Project is being implemented by PPIB under the CPEC framework. The Board was briefed that majority of these projects are at advance stages of implementation, some are the process declaring COD/testing and commissioning, some are under construction, while others are under Financial Closing and Pre-Financial Closing stages.
The Minister
and Board members expressed their satisfaction on the progress of
ongoing power generation & transmission projects being handled by PPIB
and urged PPIB to keep abreast on the progress of said projects which are
of vital importance in stimulating our economic growth by promoting allied
businesses in infrastructure development and creating employment
opportunities. The Federal Minister said that the present government
has announced various incentives through the power policy of 2015, and
while lauding PPIB on its efforts for attracting record investment in the power
sector, he said that the facilitation extended to the new investors in
power sector should be further enhanced to support local and
international investors.
*******
