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.
