Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) on Tuesday approved signing of Implementation Agreements (IAs) for two hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 940 MW. These projects are 840 MW Sukki Kinari at River Kunhar, District Mansehra and 100 MW Gulpur to be located at River Poonch, District Kotli, AJK.
The Board also approved the solicitation of projects through competitive bidding for 100 MW Kotli Hydropower Project and 132 MW Rajdhani Hydropower Project at River Poonch, AJK. Presiding over 94th meeting of the PPIB, Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the PPIB is being further strengthened as a one window facilitator and procedures are being made easier and investor friendly.
Additional Secretary Incharge Water and Power/MD PPIB, Saif Ullah Chattha briefed the Board on efforts to enhance the electricity capacity in the country. The Board was informed that 84 MW New Bong Hydropower project which was recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister is the first hydel IPP of the country and has active support of the ADB, IDB and IFC. 404 MW Uch-II power project based on low BTU gas is in progress and is expected to be commissioned by January 2014, while the policy of conversion of thermal project to coal will inject another 2,000 MW to the national grid. The Board was apprised that PPIB has also developed the co-generation project with the active participation on PSMA and the other stakeholders that will encourage power generation through bagasse. PPIB has been entrusted with a challenging task of facilitating the Pakistan Power Park Management Company Limited which is responsible for establishing a park of 6600 MW imported coal based power plants. Furthermore, 590 MW Mahl Hydropower Project has recently been announced on International Competitive Bidding (ICB) basis for which Chinese and local firms have shown an interest and submitted proposals.
Syed Raghib Abbas, Chairman Wapda, Khizar Hayat Gondal, Chief Secretary Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Azra Mujtaba, Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance, Misbah Tunio, Acting Secretary Planning Commission, Khalid Awais Ranjha, Additional Secretary Energy Department, Government of Punjab, Bahadur Shah, Managing Director Pakhtunkhawa Hydel Development Organisation (PHYDO), representatives from Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources, Gilgit-Baltistan and Fata, besides Executives Directors and Directors of PPIB attended the meeting.
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