Two private sector power projects, having cumulative net capacity of 390MW have been added to the national grid. These include gas based IPP, 176.6 MW Fauji Dharki Power Project which was commissioned on 22 April, 2011, and 213.8MW Hubco-Narowal Power Project which started its commercial operations on 16 May this year.
This was briefed in the 88th meeting of the Board of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) held Monday under the chairmanship of Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar. The meeting was informed that another three IPPs are in the construction phase which include 209MW Bhikki Power Project, expected to be commissioned very soon while other two are 84 MW New Bong Hydropower Project and Uch-II 375 MW Power Project based on gas, expected by 2013.
Qamar said that government believes in the policy of facilitating the investors and free them of any hurdles or delays during the processing of their projects, therefore Policy for Power Generation 2002 is being reviewed to make it more investor-friendly in consultation with the public and private sector stakeholders. He also informed that in order to make electricity affordable, the concept to convert existing thermal IPPs to cheaper fuels like coal, LNG etc is being seriously considered.
Appreciating the role of PPIB in bringing investment in the power generation sector, the minister asked the Board to focus in the development and implementation of indigenous power projects based on hydro and coal for medium and long term needs and take measures for facilitating the same.
Earlier, progress of all the power projects were reviewed. Managing Director PPIB gave briefing on the status of power projects under process. Secretary Water and Power Imtiaz Kazi, Secretary Planning Commission, Sohail Ahmad, Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources, Muhammad Ejaz Chaudhry and Managing Director PPIB, N. A. Zuberi, besides directors of PPIB and other senior government officials and co-opted members of the Board attended the meeting.-PR