Pakistan’s first-ever HVDC transmission line project has been initiated in the private sector under CPEC while several other schemes are planned to be launched through international competitive bidding. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) on Wednesday approved extension in timelines for the financial close of different power projects including the 660-kilovolt high-voltage direct current (HVDC) Matiari-Lahore transmission line being laid under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The approval was given in the 115th meeting of the PPIB chaired by Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari.
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Besides the Matiari-Lahore transmission line, the PPIB endorsed extension in the deadlines for financial close of Thar coal-based power projects being developed under the CPEC framework. These include a 330-megawatt project of Thar Energy Limited and another 330MW project of ThalNova Thar Private Limited.
“The government believes in the policy of facilitating investors and extending full support to them for processing and timely completion of their projects,” the power minister remarked while speaking during the meeting.
He said the government realised the importance of transmission lines that were required for connecting consumers to the upcoming power generation projects.
“Current transmission network needs to be strengthened and made reliable to support the government’s aim of achieving sustainability in the system,” he said.
The minister emphasised that the government was working on upgrading the existing transmission network to make it more reliable and efficient, adding the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) had been asked to take necessary measures.
At the same time, the private sector is being encouraged to contribute to the network’s expansion. As a result, Pakistan’s first-ever HVDC transmission line project has been initiated in the private sector under CPEC while several other schemes are planned to be launched through international competitive bidding.
“Sustainability in the power system is a must … to balance the demand-supply situation. Merely providing additional megawatts will not be sufficient to achieve real goals,” the minister said.
He was of the view that Pakistan’s future lay in indigenous and renewable energy for which serious efforts were being put in. The national electricity plan and a new energy policy were the steps aimed at consolidating the efforts, which would act as a guide for future capacity expansion as well as choice of fuel, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, PPIB Managing Director Shah Jahan Mirza spoke about the projects being implemented by the power board under the CPEC framework.
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Highlighting the PPIB’s performance, he emphasised that extensive efforts were being made to promote Thar coal and hydroelectric potential for power generation.
“PPIB is successfully meeting the challenging and ambitious timelines for the addition of a huge quantum of power generation capacity to the national grid,” he said.
“Within a period of less than one year, two projects of 1,467MW have started commercial operations while another four projects of 5,000MW cumulative capacity have achieved partial commissioning.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2018.
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