Senate standing committee briefed over talks with IPPs

ISLAMABAD: The power division officials briefed the Senate’s standing committee on power, about the talks with the independent power producers (IPPs) on Wednesday.

Officials told the committee chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz that the talks underway with the wind and solar IPPs. The government also initiating negotiations with the IPPs of 2015, power division officials said.

“What is the producing capacity of the IPPs with whom the negotiations have been completed,” committee’s chairman questioned. “Agreements have been finalized with 29 IPPs, while 75 remaining”.

“The government’s talks have been completed with four LNG power plants, talks have also been finalized with two government power plants,” CPPA officials said.

“Still, most of the wind and solar plants remaining,” officials said.

Chairman committee said that the IPPs installed in Pakistan have already did over-invoicing. “Why the people not getting relief of the negotiations with IPPs,” he asked. “We have concerns over it”.

Power Minister Awais Leghari said that there will be no more time in extending relief to people.

“How the talks ongoing with IPPs, under some pressure or on the basis of facts based on figures,” Senator Shibli Faraz asked.

Leghari said that the talks are based on mutual agreement, if someone don’t want to talk, he could go to the international mediation. “Then we will conduct forensic audit,” minister added.