Senate body seeks report on payments being given to unproductive power plants

ISLAMABAD: Member of Senate’s Standing Committee on Power Moula Bux Chandio on Tuesday asked to apprise the body about the power plants which were not producing electricity but still getting payment, ARY News reported.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) officials said in 2007 there was no power plant which would get money without functioning.

Another Senate’s Standing Committee on Power member Nauman Wazir Khattak asked them to make a chart to tell which plants were not running while they were given payment.

The NEPRA officials said the power plants were given 17 percent rate of return under the decision of the Economic Coordination Committee.

Khattak said the independent power plants should be held accountable under the agreements.

He asked how was 15 to 17 percent rate of return was given. He said we could not pay Rs20 per unit for electricity.

Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Power Fida Muhammad said they would get stuck if the agreements were reviewed.

The secretary Power Division said talks were being held with the IPPs for discounts. “Soon a meeting will be held with the IPPs.”