ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: Pakistan Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) will soon finalize pre-qualification of various companies for five power projects, worth more than $1 billion, in gas , coal and hydel sector having a total capacity of 1390mw.

According to sources of the Ministry of Water and Power, Pakistan Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has been asked to complete process of pre-qualification after evaluating details of 100-200mw gas-based power plant (Manzalai) at Lachi, district Karak, NWFP by Interconstruct (Pvt) Limited, 150mw Fauji Power Plant at Korangi, Karachi, Sindh by Fauji Foundation, 200mw coal- based thermal power plant at Jherruk-Sonda, Sindh by Dadabhoy Cement Industries Limited, 740mw Munda multipurpose hydro power project and 100MW Ferozwala Power Project.

The board has already approved evaluation reports on pre- qualification of the sponsors of four power projects with cumulative capacity of 770mw and estimated cost about $838 million.

In accordance with the provisions of the Power Policy-2002, a committee having representation from all stakeholders including Wapda, KESC, Planning Division, all the four provinces and AJK, initially scrutinized and approved the projects.

Projects approved by the committee are Jarwar Project of 123mw, Western Electric Power Project of 150mw, Balloki Power Project of 400mw and Kotli Hydro Power Project of 97mw.

The ministry has also asked PPIB to accelerate efforts for the installation of new projects aimed at meeting expected power shortfall, which have been forecast to be about 410mw up to year 2005.

The policy envisaged various objectives inter alia, to provide sufficient capacity for power generation at least cost and to avoid shortfalls while encouraging exploitation of indigenous resources.

The pre-qualification reports of these sponsors were prepared by PPIB as per international standards. Further, as per provisions of the policy, PPIB Board has given the approval to PPIB for issuance of Letters of Interest to the sponsors of the projects.

The board also offered incentives to the investors interested in projects based on solar, wind, bio-mass, etc., as well as projects based on coal with integrated coal mining and fuel facility in Power Policy 2002.

In addition to these projects being handled by PPIB, two hydel projects namely New Bong Hydel Power Project of 79mw and Rajdhani Power project 132mw are at an advanced stage and it is expected that practical work would start soon for these projects.

The policy is being administered by Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB), an organization working under the auspices of the Ministry of Water and Power, to provide one- window facility to private sector investors.-APP