New power policy for projects below 50 megawatts: Sindh opposes Centre''s proposal

Sindh government has opposed a proposal of Federal government in relation to devising a new power policy for projects below 50MW, Business Recorder learnt on Thursday. In a meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI) held few months back, it was decided that bar on provinces to generate electricity up to 50MW was contrary to the provision of Article 157 of the Constitution and appropriate amendments would be made to Power Policy 2002, sources said.
Despite said decision, the federal government has written a letter to Sindh Power Department, seeking comments on making new power policy for projects under 50MW, sources said. According to sources, Sindh Power Department has written a letter to Federal government that it was agreed that bar on provinces to generate electricity below 50MW was contrary to the provision of Article 157 of the Constitution and appropriate amendments would be made in Power Policy 2002, to bring it in line with the interpretation of Constitution as explained in the summary by the Punjab government.
50MW limit imposed by the Power Policy 2002, has been removed allowing the provinces to generate up to unlimited capacity, letter stated. Matter was discussed in a meeting of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), recommendations of the committee constituted to review proposed amendments in policy for Power Generation Projects 2002. In which, it was stated that there is no limit of 50MW on provinces for setting up power projects for use of electricity within their own provincial territory. Hence, when bar of 50MW has been removed, it is not clear that why Federal government is again developing policy for power projects below 50MW, letter further stated.