The interim government is committed to ensure that the two months are not wasted, rather processes to achieve self-reliance in electricity should be initiated so that the coming government can easily take over from there. Further the energy projects should be facilitated by PPIB in achieving various milestones leading to their successful implementation. This was stated by the caretaker Minister for Power Syed Ali Zafar on his visit to the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). The Honorable Minister was briefed by the Managing Director PPIB Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza that under the policy of the government and its resolve to eliminate load shedding PPIB has taken proactive role to complete the power projects well in time. The Minister was further briefed that PPIB is encouraging addition of affordable electricity hence prioritizing hydro and local coal resources for power generation while promoting imported coal based power generation as a reliable base load solution. Currently PPIB is implementing two robust policy frameworks namely Power Generation Policy 2015 and Policy Framework for Private Sector Transmission Line Projects 2015 which offer market competitive incentives and simplified procedures for the investors. The Minister was informed that current target of PPIB is to complete nine projects of 8,200 MW by 2018 while 14,000 MW by 2021 out of which 6,420 MW have already been commissioned while six (6) projects of 4,395 MW are under construction, five (5) projects of 2,803 MW are under Financial Closing stage and one (1) project of 300 MW is currently under tariff determination stage. In the detailed presentation given to the Honorable Minister on PPIB’s achievements and current activities, the Minister was briefed that since its inception in 1994 PPIB has so far provided thirty seven (37) power generation projects of 15,469 MW of around US$ 17 billion FDI which are playing crucial role in fulfilling country’s electricity demand. While briefing on the CPEC, the MD PPIB stated that CPEC has been instrumental in achieving a historical breakthrough in the energy history of Pakistan whereby the country’s coal reserves at Thar are being developed having coal mining and power generation projects of which 660 MW power generation and coal mining project has already started construction at site. The Minister also directed the management of PPIB to present the list of major challenges which cause delay in various ongoing projects and mentioned that unnecessary delay in completion of power projects would not be acceptable.
PREVIOUS NEXT
