Rs 470,788 Mln Paid To Power Producers Under CPP In 2017-18: Senate Body Told

The Senate Standing Committee on Power Tuesday was informed that a sum of Rs 470,788 million had been paid to power producers including WAPDA, Ex-WAPDA GENCOs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) during fiscal year 2017-18 under the head of capacity purchase price (CPP)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Apr, 2019 ) :The Senate Standing Committee on Power Tuesday was informed that a sum of Rs 470,788 million had been paid to power producers including WAPDA, Ex-WAPDA GENCOs and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) during fiscal year 2017-18 under the head of capacity purchase price (CPP).

Briefing the Committee which met with Fida Muhammad in the Chair, a senior official of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) said neither capacity payment was made to any power plant nor any plant remained without generating electricity during 2017.

Giving the breakup, he said that an amount of Rs 132,334 million was paid to hydroelectric power producers including WAPDA, Rs 40,884 million to Ex-WAPDA GENCOs and Rs 297.570 million to IPPs during fiscal year 2017-18.

Senator Moula Bux Chandio said they committee should be informed in simple words about those power plants which were getting capacity payment but not generating a single unit.

The Chairman directed to furnish details of capacity payment to IPPs during fiscal year 2018-19 and agreements signed in 1994.

Nauman Wazir said month-wise chart reflecting payment of CPP should be submitted to the Senate Panel to check which plant received payment without generating electricity.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) apprised the Committee that 17 per cent Rate of Return (IPR) was given to power plants and the decision was taken by the then Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

The Committee asked how 15-17 per cent IPR was given to the power plants.

Secretary Power Division, Irfan Ali told the Committee that negotiation was being carried out with IPPs to get some concessions in the agreements. The IPPs showed willingness in this regard, he added.

He said the Prime Minister had also directed to bring improvement in various conditions of the agreements.

The Committee was further informed that there was no post above BPS-20 in PEPCO including corporate entities. As per policy the BPS-20 officers were promoted as General Manger.

However, the Secretary said that the PEPCO board would take up the matter and the GM/Chief Engineers should be in BPS-21.

The meeting was attended by Senators Nauman Wazir, Moula Bux Chandio, Muhammad Akram, Mushahid Ullah Khan and Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, officials of the ministry of power, PEPCO, NEPRA and CPPA.