ISLAMABAD: The government decided on Wednesday to begin processing proposals submitted by private companies to set up 10 coal-based power projects having a total capacity of 4,250MW in different provinces.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the board of Private Power and Infra­structure Board (PPIB) presided over by Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif. PPIB Managing Director N.A. Zuberi, who was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau about two months ago, could not attend the meeting.

The board directed the PPIB to start processing of proposals submitted by the private sector on an urgent basis and issue letters of interest to interested parties without delay, subject to com­­­­­p­­­letion of legal requirements.

The meeting noted that the PPIB was receiving an encouraging response from the private sector and prominent local and international investors had shown interest in developing coal-based power projects.

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Some interested parties that have submitted unsolicited proposals for coal-based power projects include: Hub Power Company and Global Benefit Malaysia for 660MW each, Giga Energy (420MW), Yunus Brothers/Lucky Cement (660MW), Asiapak Hong Kong (two units of 660MW each), Siddiqsons Group (330MW) and Asia Petroleum (200MW).

These power plants are proposed to be set up in Hub, Port Qasim, Karachi coastal area, Faisalabad, Gharo and Jamshoro.

Likewise, Sino Sindh Re­­sour­­ces, in collaboration with China Power Inter­national, and Thar Power Company, a joint venture of the Engro Energy and Government of Sindh, have also shown interest in developing two power projects of 600MW each and two power projects of 330MW in Thar.

The board approved the processing of these projects after completion of required formalities. The minister said the government wanted to provide people with uninterrupted cheap power, and it was working hard to achieve that objective.

He said that while it was important to set up power projects, it was equally necessary to have a stable transmission system so that power generated by these projects could reach consumers through a national grid.

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The government had decided to privatise transmission system of power, he said, adding that it was inviting the private sector to construct transmission lines for which a policy document would be announced very shortly.

The meeting was told that the PPIB was constantly monitoring early implementation of the hydropower projects. These include 870MW Sukki-Kinari project, 720MW Karot project and 1100MW Kohala project.

Keeping in view the importance being given to projects based on indigenous re­­sources, a letter of support was also issued on Wednes­day for the 100MW Gulpur Hydropower Project situated in Poonch River near Kotli in Azad Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2014