Pakistan’s government has decided to begin processing proposals submitted by private companies to set up 10 coal-fired power projects with a total capacity of 4250 MW.
The board of Private Power and InfraÂstructure Board (PPIB) presided over by Minister for Water and Power Khwaja Asif has directed the PPIB to start processing of proposals submitted by the private sector on an urgent basis and issue letters of interest to interested parties without delay, subject to completion of legal requirements.
Some interested parties that have submitted unsolicited proposals for coal-fired power projects include: Hub Power Company and Global Benefit Malaysia for 660 MW each, Giga Energy (420 MW), Yunus Brothers/Lucky Cement (660 MW), Asiapak Hong Kong (two units of 660MW each), Siddiqsons Group (330 MW) and Asia Petroleum (200 MW).
These power plants are proposed to be set up in Hub, Port Qasim, Karachi coastal area, Faisalabad, Gharo and Jamshoro.
Sino Sindh Resources, in collaboration with China Power International, and Thar Power Company, a joint venture of the Engro Energy and Government of Sindh, have also shown interest in developing two power projects of 600 MW each and two power projects of 330 MW each in Thar.
The minister said the government had also decided to privatise transmission system of power, adding that it was inviting the private sector to construct transmission lines for which a policy document would be announced very shortly.