The Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has introduced new arrangements for Category-III wind projects in Thatta, aiming to facilitate the purchase of 300 MW of electricity by K-Electric (KE) through its transmission network, according to sources familiar with NEPRA’s information.
The Managing Director of PPIB, Shah Jahan Mirza, communicated these developments in a letter to NEPRA’s Chairman, Waseem Mukhtar.
The new arrangements stem from a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) in February 2019, subsequently endorsed by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) under the Alternate Renewable Energy (ARE) Policy 2019. PPIB’s mandate includes conducting competitive bidding for Category-III projects, encompassing 31 wind projects with a combined capacity of 2,139 MW.
Despite efforts to kickstart the competitive bidding process for these wind projects, challenges arose due to the lack of Interconnection Ready Zones (IRZs) needed for power evacuation. As many wind projects are situated in Thatta, Sindh, and face curtailment due to transmission constraints in NTDC’s network, a new arrangement has been devised to facilitate bidding.
Under this arrangement, K-Electric will act as the off-taker/purchaser for Category-III wind projects in Sindh, signing Energy Purchase Agreements (EPAs) with successful bidders. PPIB will conduct competitive bidding on behalf of KE for a 300 MW capacity, utilizing KE’s system directly.
To implement this arrangement, PPIB is amending the existing Request for Proposal (RFP) documents in consultation with KE, which will be submitted to NEPRA for approval soon. PPIB has also shared this scheme with NEPRA for input and guidance to expedite the bidding process.
Story By Mushtaq Ghumman
