Committee established to transition IPPs to Thar coal

To convert three Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that rely on imported coal to Thar coal, the Federal Minister of Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, constituted a committee from four members.

Director General (Thermal) PPIB Ali Nawaz, Shamsuddin Sheikh, CSO K-Electric Shahab Qadir, and Secretary of Power Division would be on the committee, according to a notification that was released.

Coordinating with IPPs and other relevant parties to produce collaborative bankable technical and financial feasibility studies for plant conversion to Thar coal is the committee’s assigned duty.

Along with examining logistics, the four-member group is also expected to advise the government on the best course of action, assess and design an implementation strategy, and assess the logistics of transporting coal from the Thar mines to the project locations.

Under the supervision of the Power Division Secretary, the committee may solicit assistance or co-opt resources from any relevant agencies or organizations.

Awais Leghari, the Federal Minister, had earlier on August 20 stated that within a month or two, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will present the public with positive news on IPPs.

At a youth conference in Islamabad, the minister of energy reported on the measures being implemented to tackle the nation’s energy emergencies. “The energy sector is going to need reforms,” he declared.

According to him, there have been 400 billion losses in the energy billing of $1100 billion.

The minister of energy stated, “We worked on the IPP issue in silence, but everyone jumped on the bandwagon.” As pressure over the IPPs is applied, it became advantageous for us, he stated.

Inside the bounds of international contracts, we persuaded the IPPs,” the minister claimed. In Pakistani history, we have never completed a project in three and a half months, according to Leghari.