ISLAMABAD: Investors from the private sector briefed the power ministry on Friday about the progress of various energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The meeting was called by the power ministry in order to facilitate and resolve issues pertaining to the ongoing projects under CPEC to ensure that they were completed on time. It was jointly chaired by Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and Chinese embassy focal person M. Lijian Zhao.

Later, a spokesperson of the power ministry stated that all the investors took an active part in the meeting and shared updates about their projects.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan’s indigenous coal at Thar had attracted a handsome investment and the Sindh Engro Coal Mining was working hard to achieve the targeted mining results by the deadline.

It was disclosed that 63 per cent work on mining and mine mouth plant by Engro was completed and the project of 660MW Thar coal fired plant was expected to achieve its comm­ercial operation date in June 2019 — well ahead of its schedule by four months.

Other companies, including Oracle Power, Shanghai Electric, Thalnova Power and Hubco Thar Power project, said they were also working fast and would make it to their scheduled date of completion.

They were further briefed by the representatives of the 1320MW Port Qasim Coal Power plant and 1320MW Sahiwal coal-fired power plant regarding their operations and future development activities.

Representatives from the Hub Coal Power project, Gwadar Coal Power project, Suki Kinari Hydropower project, Karot Hydopower project and Kohala Hydropower projects besides the China State Grid sponsored Matirai-Lahore HVDC transmission line project informed the ministry and investors about their progress.

Representatives from alternative energy projects including the Hydro China Dawood Power, Sachal Energy, UEP, Three Gorges, Western Energy, Chacho Wind, Applo Solar and Crest Energy and Best Green also briefed the meeting regarding their projects.

Responding to the investors on the issue of delays and extension of Letter of Support and Letter of Intent, the minister who is also the chairman of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) directed the board to hold its next meeting on Jan 11.

He further directed the PPIB to thoroughly work out the details of these requests and put them before the board of directors for consideration.

Sardar Leghari assured investors that his ministry was in close negotiation with the Federal Board of Revenue on the exemption of tax and related matters.

He asked the National Transmission and Dispatch Compay (NTDC) to provide support to the investors. Mr Leghari told the power division to hold meetings with the provincial governments of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for early provision of land for the Gwadar coal project and Suki-Kinari hydropower project.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2018