The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB), which met on Tuesday with Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi in the chair, approved Letters of Interest (LoIs) for two power projects of 673 MW.
The proposals of the two projects - 548 mw Kaigah hydropower project and 125 mw co-generation project by Fatima Sugar- were discussed in detail before these were given a go-ahead signal. The Kaigah power project will be set up on River Indus, 35 km upstream of Dasu, while the power project by Fatima Sugar, which will use bagasse and gas as fuel, will be set up at Sanawan, (Kot Addu).
The meeting also noted that 84 mw New Bong hydropower project has achieved a financial close, and the sponsor, Laraib Energy, were now moving on a fast track to develop the project, which will be situated downstream of Mangla, near Mirpur, in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK).
"Today the Board also allowed PPIB to operate as agent on behalf of AJK Council, to act for and on behalf of the AJK government to process projects in the territory," said an official announcement.
The Board was briefed that 14,740 mw of projects being processed by PPIB, 830 mw will materialise by the end of 2008, while 2009 and 2010 would witness 2600 mw and 3500 mw additions into the national grid. Another 3200 mw will be added to the system by 2012, and 2016.
The meeting was attended by Water and Power Secretary, Advisor to Prime Minister on Energy, Managing Director, PPIB, and Wapda Chairman besides other senior government officials.