Islamabad, March 07, 2024: A comprehensive workshop aimed at developing a robust mechanism for tariff-based bidding of hydropower projects in Pakistan was arranged by Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), France today in Islamabad. One of the key highlights of the event was sharing draft generic Request for Proposals (RFP) documents for hydropower IPPs prepared by Joint Venture – Tractebel GmbH, Germany and NDC (the ‘Consultant’) in line with international best practices and applicable local regulations. The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry experts, investors, local and international banks, and representatives from the energy sector, to deliberate on the critical aspects of tariff-based bidding and its significance in the development of hydropower projects in Pakistan.
The workshop commenced with an insightful welcome remarks by Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza, Managing Director PPIB. Mr. Mirza commended the Consultant for its dedication and expertise in crafting a robust framework and remarked that this is a major step for moving towards award of projects through competitive bidding instead of present system. Other esteemed speakers delved into the intricacies of the RFP, highlighted its key features and potential to streamline the bidding process for hydropower projects.
Throughout the workshop sessions, participants engaged in dynamic discussions and knowledge-sharing activities. The workshop served as a platform for fostering dialogue, exchanging ideas, and building consensus on the way forward for accelerating the development of hydropower projects in Pakistan for lowering generation cost. Participants expressed their commitment to working collaboratively towards achieving the shared goal of ensuring a sustainable, reliable, less expensive and eco-friendly energy supply for the nation.
Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza expressed his gratitude to AFD, the Consultant and all other participants for their active involvement and valuable contributions towards making the event a success. He further remarked that PPIB has already accomplished significant success towards attracting private investment in establishing hydropower IPPs which is evident from the fact that so far 4 hydro IPPs of over 1,000 MW have been completed while another 13 hydro IPPs of 5,455 MW are at different stages of processing out of which 884 MW Suki Kinari project is scheduled to be operation by November 2024. Besides, hydropower, PPIB’s efficient facilitation has resulted in successful implementation of 54 wind/solar/bagasse based IPPs of 2,785 MW. As Pakistan continues its journey towards attaining energy security, sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness, initiatives such as this workshop play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the country’s energy landscape.

Under Government’s Hajj scheme, each year an employee from staff grades SG-I to SG-IV is picked through balloting who is sponsored by PPIB from its own resources for performing Hajj. Accordingly, the balloting for the Hajj-2024 was done on 10^th January 2024. Since this was the first balloting after merger of AEDB with PPIB, it was done to pick one staff grade employee each from PPIB and dissolved AEDB. The ballot slips were picked by Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza, Managing Director PPIB, Director Generals, & Directors. As a result, PPIB’s Tariq Mahmood, Office Attendant and Mr. Muhammad Nazir, Driver from dissolved AEDB were declared as successful to perform Hajj for the year 2024 at PPIB’s expense.

The management congratulated both successful employees for this sacred duty.

The 3^rd International Conference on Hydropower Pakistan-2023 organized by Energy Update in collaboration with Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and International Hydropower Association (IHA) was held in Serena Hotel, Islamabad on 20^th December 2023. The conference was graced by Minister for Energy, Mr. Muhammad Ali, Managing Director PPIB, Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza, large number of dignitaries from public and private sector, key stakeholders and power/energy sector experts.

Honorable Minister for Energy in his address acknowledged the efforts of Energy Update towards development of hydropower in the country and congratulated Mr. Naeem Qureshi, for organizing 3^rd consecutive conference on hydropower. The Minister while signifying the importance of hydropower being renewable, green and cheap source of power generation, reiterated GoP’s determination to do more in this sector with the combined efforts of public and private sector. He said that enhancing Renewable Energy and hydropower share in the energy mix is the top priority of the GoP as it is the only way to reduce the power tariff besides provision of affordable electricity to the people.

While addressing the participants, Managing Director PPIB Mr. Shah Jahan Mirza stated that out of the identified hydropower potential of 64000 MW in the country, only 11000 MW have been achieved so far which accounts for 24% of the overall national generation capacity of 45000 MW. He said that for maximum exploitation of identified potential, GoP is targeting to maximize reliance on indigenous and renewable resources whereby hydel, wind, solar and bagasse based energy will increase from 31% to 60% by 2031. This development will also help in curtailing reliance on imported fuels, reducing carbon emissions and savings of precious foreign exchange. Mr. Mirza in his concluding remarks stated that PPIB being one window facilitator has been working to encourage indigenous and renewable resources for power generation in accordance with the targets set-forth in the National Electricity Policy and UN’s SGDs and COP.