Punjab Power Development Board (PPDB) of the Irrigation and Power Department has been given the mandate to implement power generation projects in the private sector through utilisation of water resources of canals, rivers and other resources based on indigenous fuel, gas and coal as well as wind and solar energy wherever economically available.
The PPDB is responsible for the implementation of power projects through one-window operation. It has already issued 10 letters of interest (LoIs) to the qualified sponsors for the setting up of various small hydel power generation plants with a total capacity of 140 megawatt at different canals and barrages in the province. Senior Punjab Minister Raja Riaz Ahmad while talking to a 10-member delegation of private investors here on Saturday disclosed this.
Raja Riaz briefed the delegation about the initiatives of the Punjab Irrigation Department for involving the private sector to invest in hydel power generation, and maintained that the department was adopting a holistic approach for sustainable development of power generation projects on fast track basis at suitable canal points.
He further said that according to the LoIs, 10 MW plant at B.S. Link Canal; 7.71 MW plant at Q.B. Link Canal; 3.03 MW plant at Jhang Branch Canal; 2.08 MW plant at LBDC; 40 MW plant at C.J. Link Tail Canal Fall; 10 MW plant at T.P. Link Canal; 9 MW plant at B.S Link1 (Tail); 20 MW plant at Rasul; 20 MW plant at Punjnad and 20 MW plant at Marala had been planned.
He further said that the government of Pakistan had set up Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) for the implementation of power generation projects in the private sector and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to regulate tariffs and to safeguard the interests of sellers, purchasers and users of power.
He said that the investors should take full benefit of the initiatives of the government and must invest in the power and energy sectors so that the growing demands of energy could be met.