Minister for Privatisation, Syed Naveed Qamar, has directed the Ministry of Water and Power and Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) to expedite and timely complete the ongoing private and public sector power projects. Qamar, who has been given additional charge of Ministry of Water and Power, gave these instructions while presiding over a meeting on ongoing power projects, power sector reforms and the current power situation, held in the PPIB office on Wednesday.
Senior officials of the Ministry and PPIB participated. He further asked the PPIB to focus in the development and implementation of the indigenous power projects based on hydro, coal, wind, and solar for medium and long term needs. While appreciating the role of PPIB in bringing investment in the power generation sector, he advised it to resolve all the issues of IPPs and ensure their timely generation. The Minister also stressed the need for energy conservation, efficiency improvement and reduction of system losses.
Qamar was informed that currently 40 percent of the total power production is being generated through private power projects. PPIB has also initiated International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for three projects of 100MW each. It was also informed that a 300MW project of imported coal is being under process. He was also apprised of guidelines for fast track processing of hydropower projects which are also under process.
Minister was also given detailed presentation on the current power generation, future needs and to ensure and maintain maximum generation in the peak demand. The meeting was also informed that new Boards of Directors (BoDs) of Discos have been constituted and various steps are being taken under the power sector reforms plan to make them independent.-PR