FAQs

  • IPP is abbreviation of Independent Power Producer.

  • Power shortage had been one of the chronic problems hampering Pakistan's socio-economic growth since late 1980s, the problem had assumed such acute dimensions that power supply fell short of demand by almost 2000 MW during peak load hours. On a routine basis, this resulted in forced interruptions in the supply of electricity to consumers during peak hours resulting in load shedding. The unreliable power supply shattered the industrial progress. There was a gap between demand and supply due to the rapid increase in electricity demand (estimated to be growing at a rate of 7-8 % per annum at that time). This situation called for immediate intervention by the GOP through adoption of policy measures aimed at massive resource mobilization for investment in the power/energy sector. The enormous quantum of required investment compared with the constrained funding potential of the national exchequer, was not conducive to allocation of scarce GOP funds for power/energy. Therefore, the GOP took a bold initiative in late 80s to induct private sector investment in the power sector.

  • Developing power generation capacity is very capital intensive. For example the capital requirements for a deficit of 5000 MW is around US$ 6 billion. Such an amount cannot be carved out from the annual budget of federal government. As such in late eighties the Government of Pakistan made in principle decision to seek private sector investment in power generation. Attracting investment of that big magnitude require a team of highly qualified professionals who are trained in project, financial and contract management / analysis beside being courteous and imbued in corporate culture. Long and tedious experimentations by various governmental agencies on part time basis with HUBCO (the first private sector power generation project) and other prospective Independent power Producers (IPPs) in late 1980's convinced the government to create a dedicated organization having roots in government but having a corporate look that could provide a suitable interface to private sector entrepreneurs, their consultants, lawyers, and lenders feel easy to approach, Private Power and Infrastructure Board(PPIB) was created as a dedicated one window facilitator for attracting private investments in power sector. The resultant success of PPIB was so impressive that PPIB's model was followed by many other countries. Given the current shortfall and magnitude of investment required, the justification of PPIB as dedicated institute for providing one window facilitation and attract private investment in power sector has magnified manifold.

  • Foreign Lenders Local Lenders
    IFC National Bank of Pakistan
    World Bank Habib Bank Limited
    ADB United Bank Limited
    IDB Muslim Commercial Bank
    US Exim Bank Allied Bank Limited
    AIDEC Askari Bank Limited
    CDC (UK) Faysal Bank Limited
    EDC (UK) Meezan Bank Limited
    SACHE (Italy) Bank Al Habib
    ANZ Banking Group (Australia) Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited
    ABN Amro Bank (Now merged with Faysal Bank) The Bank of Punjab
    Jexim (Japan) Soneri Bank Limited
    Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi NIB Bank Limited
    Toronto-Dominion Bank Pak Oman Investment Company
    DEG (Germany) Pak China Investment Company
    FMO (Netherlands) Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Company
    PROPARCO (France)
    SWEDFUND (Sweden)
    OPIC (US)
    K-Exim
    Exim Bank of China
    Industrial & Commercial Bank of China
    China Development Bank
  • Foreign Investors (Sponsors) Local Investors (Sponsors)
    International Power (UK) Nishat Group
    Congen Technology Sapphire Textile Limited
    El Paso (USA) Attock Refinery Limited
    Tenaska (USA) Engro Chemical
    Mitsui (Japan) Shirazi Investment
    Xenel (KSA) Fauji Foundation
    TNB - (Malaysia) Saif Group
    AES Corporation Liberty Mills
    ADB Descon Group
    IFC Gul Ahmed
    Oman Oil Tapal
    DEG Germany saigols
    GE Capital HUBCO
    GDF Suez (France) Lucky Group
    KOSEP, Korea Siddiqsons Ltd.
    K-Water, Korea
    CMEC, China
    Shanghai Electric Group, China
    Power Construction Corporation, China
    China Power International Holding Co, China
    China Gezhouba Group, China
    China Three Gorges, China

  • The minimum equity requirement for an IPP in Pakistan is 20% of the total Project Cost.

  • If projects are implemented through the public sector utilities, they absorb a significant portion of national budget allocation. The allocation for new power projects surpasses the cumulative allocation for health, housing, education and agriculture sectors. Therefore, in order to save governmental allocations for these vital sectors, private sector investment has been sought in Pakistan.

  • The Bulk Power Tariff (BPT) offered by Pakistan to the IPPs inducted under the 1994 Power Policy was comparable to the IPP tariffs in other Asian countries. The increase in tariff with time is mainly due to increase in the prices of furnace oil and gas, and devaluation of the Pak Rupee.

  • In order to promote fair competition in the electricity industry and to protect the interests of consumers, producers and sellers of electric power, the GOP has enacted the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997. Under this Act, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has been created to introduce transparent and judicious economic regulation, based on sound commercial principles, to the power sector of Pakistan. One primary responsibility of the regulator is determination of tariff for the various generation, transmission, and distribution companies, including the IPPs. NEPRA follows a standard and transparent procedure for tariff determination, which includes public hearing and views from all stakeholders.

  • Estimated power potential in Pakistan is about 60,000 MW and Projects with installed capacity of 6928 MW have been developed so far

  • Information on the status of hydropower projects can be found in the report "Hydro Power Resources of Pakistan" published by PPIB, available at PPIB web site.

  • Tarbela (3478 MW), Ghazi-Barotha (1450 MW) and Mangla (1000 MW) are the major hydropower plants in operation in Pakistan.

  • 84 MW New Bong is the 1st Hydro-IPP in Pakistan/AJK. 147 MW Patrind Hydropower Project. 102 MW Gulpur Hydropower Project

  • Hydropower Projects in private sector are being implemented on Build- Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis and the project based on this model shall be transferred to the Government at the end of the concession period.

  • The hydropower projects shall be implemented on BOOT basis or any other mode and the term of term of concession period for the private sector will be 30 years after which the project will be transferred to the Provincial Government/AJK and GB (as the case may be) for Pak Rupee1.

  • According to the data available on the hydropower projects recently under implementation, the average capital cost for construction is being worked out as 1.5 million to 2 million US $/ MW. This cost is for medium size run of river type hydropower projects, however, the costs of building a hydropower project can vary considerably depending upon nature and location of the project, availability of transmission line and potential environmental mitigation needs.

  • Due to the site specific nature and being on remote locations, construction time required for development of hydropower project is a bit longer as compared with the thermal power projects. For a medium size run of river hydropower project the development and construction time could be around 5 to 6 years.

  • Numerous studies have been conducted all of which have concluded that all coal reserves of Pakistan are suitable for power generation. Pakistan's total coal reserves are 186,007 million tons. The biggest coal reserve of Thar which lies in Sindh has an estimated potential of 175,506 million tons and preliminary studies suggest that Thar is capable of generating 100,000 MW for two centuries.

  • Inspite of fact that constitutionally coal is a provincial subject, PPIB has endeavored to promote private sector investment in coal based power generation. The Federal Government has announced a set of incentives for coal mining and coal based power projects. Whereas the Government of Sindh (GoS) has created a high power decision making agency i.e. Thar Coal & Energy Board (TCEB) which has high level representation from both the federal and provincial governments. Following Power Generation projects are being developed through PPIB on local coal: 1320 MW Shanghai Electric Power Project at Thar Block-I 660 MW Engro Powergen Project at Thar Block-II 330 MW Thar Energy Limited Power Project at Thar Block-II Sindh 330 MW Thal Nova Thal(Pvt) Limited Power Project at Thar Block-II, Sindh 1320 MW Oracle Coalfield PLC Power Project at Thar Block-VI 660 MW Lucky Electric Power Company Limited at Port Qasim Karachi. 330 MW SiddiqSon Energy Limited at Thar Block-II, Sindh

  • Yes, PPIB may process private power projects including coal based power projects in the country and will also continue to extend support to all the provincial governments including AJK/GB. Further, the provincial governments may recommend the projects for further processing by PPIB including coal based projects earlier awarded by concerned province as per Power Generation Policy 2015. However, TCEB will be the focal and decision making body for coal affairs of the Thar coal field located in Sindh province.

  • Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) technology is in development stage and a pilot project at Thar block-V based on UCG is being implemented. After ascertaining commercial viability of the pilot project, large scale projects would be considered.