CCoE gives go-ahead for setting up Technical Directorate in power division

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has given go-ahead to Power Division to set up a Technical Directorate comprising of experts in power sector .

Technical Directorate is aimed at increasing capacity of power division and would be headed by a director General (DG). Experts in generation, transmission, distribution, regulatory, tariff and financial matters would be part of the directorate. The directorate will expert on MP scales through competitive process.

The CCOE was briefed on Monday about steps being taken regarding the governance improvement of the power sector. It was informed that CEOs of AEDB, PPIB, and GENCOs have been appointed following a competitive process, and progress is being made regarding the establishment of a Technical Directorate at the Ministry of Energy.

It was also apprised about the progress on the formulation and approval of the Renewable Energy (RE) Policy and the introduction of competitive bidding process for the entry of new producers in the renewable energy sector of Pakistan during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) in Islamabad on Monday with Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in the chair.

Members of the CCOE including Ministers for Railways Sheikh Rasheed, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, Advisor on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, SAPM on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, and officials from the Power, Petroleum, Finance, Maritime Division and NEPRA were also present in the meeting.

The CCOE directed the Power Division to expedite the process and report back to the CCOE. The CCOE also approved the proposals of the Ministry of Power regarding the placement of various project companies in their respective categories on the basis of already specified criteria.

The CCOE was apprised about the future trajectory of demand of energy in the country and the steps being taken to ensure the availability of power to various sectors and the progress being made on rationalizing the energy prices in the country. NEPRA apprised the meeting on the progress made on the introduction of the advance design of the Competitive Trading Bilateral Market in Pakistan.

Ministry of Maritime Affairs submitted its report regarding the enhancement of off-shore storage capacity of imported petroleum products. The CCOE directed the Petroleum Division to examine the financial feasibility of the proposals.