ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: Expecting a power shortfall of more than 1,200 megawatt next year, the government has approached the independent power producers to expand their generation capacity on an emergency basis, it is learnt.

Sources in the ministry of water and power told this correspondent that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had invited the IPPs to a meeting on Thursday to finalize a two-pronged plan for the development of thermal power projects, both in public and private sectors.

According to sources, the prime minister will seek the opinion of the IPPs how their capacity could be enhanced on a crash basis to meet the looming power shortfall that will keep on increasing in the coming years as a result of a growing economy.

Besides, the Water and Power Development Authority has demanded Rs37 billion from the federal government to install two combined cycle dual fuel projects of 450MW each in Chichuki Malian and Nandipur.

The meeting will also be attended by Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi, the secretary water and power, chairman Wapda and managing director Private Power and Infrastructure Board.

The sources said a special committee constituted by the prime minister had recommended establishment of two power projects in the public sector with a total capacity of 900-MW and a request to the IPPs to line up more power projects in the next two years.

The committee, led by Secretary water and power Ashfaq Mehmood and comprising the secretary finance and the heads of Wapda and the PPIB, reached the conclusion that two Wapda projects could be brought on production stage by 2,007 by adopting a very tight schedule and bypassing routine procedural requirements.

Wapda had informed the government that it would require about Rs37 billion to immediately set to motion the process of project implementation by November. The meeting may approve the implementation schedule and provision of the amount to Wapda.

The sources said the prime minister would also ascertain the problems being faced by the IPPs and seek their opinion how the government could help them to enhance their production.