He gave these instructions while presiding over a meeting of all the line organizations in the presence of Chinese Deputy Head of Mission M Lijian Zhao, who is nominated by the Embassy of China as the focal person for power projects and he also co-chaired the meeting. Secretary Power Division Yousuf Naseem Khokhar was also present in the meeting.
The sources said Chinese investors have serious complaints against organizations which are dealing with power sector projects and they include Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC), Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), provincial governments and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).
An official statement says that all the investors took active participation in the meeting and informed the meeting regarding their projects achievements and expressed satisfaction over the role of Power Division in extending all-out facilitation to them in all phases of their development activities. They acknowledged the Power Sector performance as a success story under the CPEC.
The meeting was informed that Pakistan''s indigenous coal at Thar has attracted a handsome investment and the SCMC is working hard to achieve the targeted mining results within the time.
It was disclosed in the meeting that 63% work on mining and mine mouth plant by Engro is complete and the project of 660MW Thar coal fired plant is expected to achieve its COD in June 2019 well ahead of its time schedule by almost four months. Other companies including the Oracle Power, Shanghai electric, Thalnova Power and HUBCO Thar Power Project are also working fast and will achieve their CODs well in time.
The meeting was also briefed by the representatives of 1,320MW Port Qasim Coal Power Plant and 1320MW Sahiwal Coal Power Plant regarding their operations and the future development activities.
Representatives from Hub Power Coal Power Project, Gwadar Coal Power Project, Sukki Kinari Hydro Power Project, Karot Hydo Power Project and Kohala Hydro Power Projects, besides the China state grid-sponsored Matiari-Lahore HVDC Transmission Line project representative briefed the meeting regarding the progress and the timeline achieved so far in execution of these projects.
Representatives from alternative energy projects (Wing Solar) including the Hdro China Dawood Power, Sachal Energy, UEP, Three Gorges, Western Energy, Chacho Wind, Applo Solar, Crest Energy, and Best Green also briefed the meeting regarding their projects.
Responding to the investors on the issue of delay and extension of LoS and LoI, the Minister for Power Division, being also the Chairman of the BoD of PPIB, directed the PPIB to hold its next meeting on January 11, 2018. He further directed the PPIB to thoroughly work out the details of these requests and put before the BoD for its merit consideration and decision.
The minister for Power Division while making it clear that no further extension for delay would be accorded said that case for one time extension will be presented before the PPIB BoD for consideration.
The minister also assured the investors that the Power Division is also in close negotiations with FBR on the issue of exemption of tax and other related matters and positive results are expected soon. The minister also directed the NTDC to sit with representatives of coming power projects in Thar to ensure timely provision of feedback. He also directed the NTDC to provide all-out support to the investors so that they may be able to evacuate the power as soon as they achieve the COD.
The minister also directed the Power Division to hold meeting with provincial governments of Balochistan and KPK for early provision of land for Gwadar Coal Power Project and Sukki Kinari Hdro Power Project respectively.
The minister for Power Division also tasked the CPPA and Power Division to approach the power regulator for sorting out the tariff related issues being faced by a few of the projects.
The Chinese Deputy Head of Mission on the occasion appreciated the efforts of the Power Division for meeting with all investors under the CPEC energy projects and not only listening to their issues but also issuance of directions for their early resolution. He said that China is further looking to extend support to Pakistan in energy and investors in China have been keenly following the success in the power sector. The MD PPIB, CEO AEDB, MD NTDC, MD PEPCO and other senior officials of the Power Division were preset in the meeting.