The government will begin a forensic investigation into IPPs that refuse to engage in negotiations.

If an independent power producer (IPP) declines to negotiate, the federal government will begin a forensic audit.

Muhammad Ali, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Energy, informed the Senate Standing Committee that the IPPs were being consulted by the government’s task group.

But a power plant set up under the 1994 program has refused to engage in negotiations, therefore the government is moving on with a forensic audit. He went on to say that NEPRA has previously advertised the hiring of an auditor for the procedure in foreign newspapers.

Ali further stated that any power plant unwilling to enter negotiations would also be subjected to a forensic audit, with the Ministry of Energy set to issue relevant directives.

Ali added that a forensic audit would be conducted on any power plant that refused to engage in negotiations, and the Ministry of Energy would then issue the necessary instructions.

He revealed that Rs35 billion had been recovered from IPPs using gas and furnace oil as part of an update on financial recovery.

Under the guise of fuel, operating, and maintenance expenditures, these sums were purportedly overpaid by past governments.

The committee was updated on loadshedding schedules by Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari, who also promised to minimize power disruptions throughout Ramadan.