Matiari-Lahore transmission line project: PPIB okays execution of implementation accord

The Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB) on Thursday approved execution of Implementation Agreement (IA) with the +660kV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project and extension in financial closing data for 1320 Hubco's coal-fired power plant.
However, the Board did not approve conversion of four IPPs to RLNG due to unknown reasons. The projects were ie AEL Lalpir, AES Pak Gen. Fauji Kabirwala Saba Power .
The Board did not approve extension in LoS of Kohala hydropower project Sukki Kinari hydropower project and Grainj Power to discourage extension in LoS again and again.The Board constituted a committee comprising officials of PPIB, NTDC and CPPA to review these projects after the National Electric Plan will be ready. The Board also did not approve a proposal regarding small hydropower project. The Board also approved hiring of consultant to prepare merger of PPIB with AEDB.
Presiding over the meeting, the Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, in conflict with the incumbent Managing Director PPIB, said that National Electricity Plan and new Energy Policy are in final stages of development and have full participation of the provinces. This plan will be of utmost importance in determining demand and supply scenario of electricity in the country, the minister added while presiding over the 113th meeting of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB).
He further said that all pending LoIs issued to sponsors will accordingly be evaluated under this plan. The National Electricity Plan would play a major role in determining the future sources of power generation and reduced tariff which would be based on International Competitive Bidding (ICB).
The minister further stated that the sponsors of projects should diligently pursue their projects so that projects are implemented well in time while practice of granting extensions in accomplishing various milestones should be avoided so that the plan for capacity addition is not disturbed. Ch Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State Power Division, amongst other senior federal and provincial government officers attended the meeting.
The board approved execution of Implementation Agreement (IA) with the +660kV HVDC Matiari-Lahore Transmission Line Project, consequently allowing PPIB to execute the agreement for timely implementation of the project of national importance. The Board also allowed extension in Financial Close Date of 1320 MW imported coal based power project at Hub without affecting the synchronization date of the first unit ie December 31, 2018 and Required Commercial Operation Date of August 1, 2019.
The Board accorded approval for the submission of the ECC summary for approval of IA and PPA for 1263 MW Trimmu RLNG based power project which is being implemented on fast track basis by the Government of Punjab.
The federal minister said that there are other aspects of the energy crisis which the government is tackling on war footing, including constraints in the transmission segment of the power sector, inefficiencies in the distribution system, the circular debt burden and inadequate checks on power theft.
Eradicating loadshedding, harnessing indigenous potential, controlling wrong meter-reading/over-billing and introducing net-metering are extraordinary achievements of the government which will be instrumental in making our electricity network efficient.