KARACHI: Presiding over a briefing meeting on the Sindh power
generation policy today, (Thursday) in Bilawal House Karachi, President
Zardari called for immediate inviting of bids for short term energy
projects, open competitive bidding, involving private sector experts
for evaluation and adoption of public- private partnership. The
Provincial government will provide land to become partner in the
project.
The briefing was attended by Governor
Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Federal Minister for
Power Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Asim
Hussain, provincial ministers, Secretary General to the President
Salman Farooqui and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial
governments.
Briefing the media persons Spokesperson
Farhatullah Babar said that the President directed that the power
projects identified under the short term measures of the provincial
power policy should be implemented without delay so as to provide some
immediate relief to the energy starved people of the province.
He said that the Sindh power policy discussed today comprised of three phases namely short term, medium term and long term.
The
short term projects will be completed in 12 to 18 months, and encompass
wind, solar and biomass power projects, solar water heating, captive
power projects within industrial zones, power projects on dormant and
abandoned gas fields, he said.
The meeting was informed that in
collaboration with China the provincial government had already
identified two potential small hydro projects downstream of Sukkur
Barrage under its short term measures which will generate about 10MW at
two different locations, costing U$ 20m. The President said that bids
should be invited for the projects identified under the short term
measures by placing advertisements in leading newspapers and the
request for proposals (RFPs) for each project be finalized and offered
to investors.
The medium-term energy projects in Sindh would be
implemented in during the four year period 2013-2017, he said, and
included power projects on new found gas fields in the province as well
as power projects based in Thar, Lakhra and Sonda coal mines. It also
envisages acquisition of PEPCO power plants located in the province
through privatization and long-term lease besides development of wind,
solar and biomass power projects, he said.
The long-term power
policy envisages projects which will be implemented in the years beyond
2018, he said. Farhatullah Babar said that the President directed that
the implementation mechanism should be based on open competitive
bidding and standardized terms of reference. The evaluation criteria
should be clearly laid down and communicated to the bidders and the
evaluation team should comprise of experts from the private sector as
well.
The President also advised the provincial government to
consider adopting the public-private partnership for development of its
energy projects by contributing land for the projects, he said. Online
