National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Chairman Tauseef H Farooqi raised issues regarding the case of 13 RE projects. On December 2, 2021, the CCoE headed by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar was briefed about the case by the Power Division. The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) has almost closed the chapter on 13 Renewable Energy (RE) projects of 600MW. With a crystal clear decision on no exceptions admissible to any Alternative and Renewable Energy (ARE) project. It has been clearly stated that all such projects will be treated in line with the approved policy. Even the attached organizations National Transmission ad Despatch Companies (NTDC) paid no attention to the raised issue. Since, Power Division, in its proposals has requested the CCoE that Nepra may be directed under Section 31(1) of the NEPRA Act read with National Electricity Policy 2021 and ARE Policy 2020. Last week, the issue of 13 RE projects also came under heated discussion at the Senate Standing Committee on Power, headed by Senator Saifullah Abro. The Chairman Standing Committee sought an update on 13 RE projects by Chairman Nepra in the previous meeting of Committee. According to the statement, the projects were ready and only the government’s approval was required. Member Nepra (Sindh), Rafique Ahmad Shaikh explained the meeting that Nepra had issued generation licenses and approved tariffs between 3 Cents to 4.5 Cents to 13 RE projects of renewable energy as per the stated mandate. However, policy decision was the domain of Power Division and it did not include these projects in the new Indicative Generation Capacity Plan. Thus, these projects do not fall in the category of least cost and reliable energy supply projects.
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