PPIB Board Approves Tripartite Letter Of Support To 2 Small Hydropower Projects

Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Board Monday approved issuance of Tripartite Letter of Support (TLOS) to two small hydropower projects (SHPPs) under the Power Generation Policy 2015 while the remaining SHPPs would be considered in the next meeting

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th May, 2019 ) :Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Board Monday approved issuance of Tripartite Letter of Support (TLOS) to two small hydropower projects (SHPPs) under the Power Generation Policy 2015 while the remaining SHPPs would be considered in the next meeting.

The PPIB board approved TLOS in its 123rd meeting held here with Federal Minister for Power, Omar Ayub Khan in the chair, a press release said.

The approved projects included 7.08 MW Riali-II located at Ghori Wala Nullah, Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad and 8 MW Kathai-II located at Kathai Nullah, Jhelum Valley, Hattian, AJ&K.

The initiative will pave a way forward for many other similar SHPPs and enhance confidence of investors in developing small to medium size hydropower power projects in provinces and AJ&K which will further augment power generation based on indigenous and clean resources.

The minister said our end dream is to ensure affordability in arranging future capacity additions for which hydro, solar, wind and coal assets are particularly vital which are abundantly available across country and enough to provide round-the-clock power supply for a long time.

He further said previous government did not give attention to the recovery of dues from power consumers and continued power supply to high losses feeders.

The present government of PTI is introducing reforms in power sector and indiscriminate action is being taken again power theft as well as the defaulters and so far billions of rupees have been recovered through this drive.

PPIB Managing Director Shah Jahan Mirza briefed the meeting on various ongoing power generation projects being processed by PPIB.

The meeting was informed on various issues being encountered by upcoming IPPs which require Board's guidance/way forward so that said IPPs are able to proceed swiftly.

In order to facilitate the sponsors in the implementation of Thar coal based power generation projects, the Board after detailed deliberations, agreed to allow six months extension in financial closing date of 1,320 MW Thar Coal based Power Project being developed by Thar Coal Block-1 Power Generation Company (Shanghai Electric Ltd.). The Board further decided to encourage the Thar coal based power projects which are crucial in meeting the future energy requirements of country and also save millions of Dollars of foreign exchange annually.

In addition to this, Thar coal based projects would generate economic activities as well as employment opportunities for the people of the remote area of Thar which entail improvement of the basic infrastructure of the area under Corporate Social Responsibility.

While considering bottlenecks in the development of Thar coal based power projects, especially with regard to availability of cooling water, the Board decided that every possible support of the Federal Government would be extended to Sindh Government for timely supply of water to these projects so as their committed CODs may not be delayed.

The Board also emphasized on the Sindh government to expedite the completion of water supply infrastructure on fast track basis.

The Board also allowed extension in financial closing of 1,263 MW RLNG based Power Generation Project near Trimmu Barrage, District Jhang.

The minister said that the government accords high importance to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which has given major relief to the power sector.

He said we are committed to prioritizing this initiative and in this regard, the investors are being facilitated to meet various timelines including commercial operation dates specified under the framework of CPEC.