In pursuance of the Power Generation Policy, 2002, under which the development of power generation projects of all types up to 50 MW was the responsibility of the Provincial Governments (the capacity limit has subsequently been relaxed), and in accordance with Section 7(4) of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997, the Provincial Government is empowered to construct power houses and grid stations and to lay transmission lines within the Province.
In accordance with the directives of the then Chief Secretary, Sindh, a PC-I titled “Creation of Power Development Cell at Karachi” was prepared at an estimated cost of Rs. 28.943 million and was approved by the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) during the financial year 2004-05. However, due to various administrative and other constraints, the scheme was formally initiated during 2008-09.
The Power Development Cell was assigned the following objectives:
To identify and prepare comprehensive power generation schemes based on indigenous and renewable energy resources, including hydropower, wind and coal-based power generation, as well as transmission and distribution network systems, particularly in the underdeveloped areas of the Province and for projects such as scrap tube-wells, lift pumps and similar schemes.
To assess the existing potential of indigenous and renewable energy resources and determine the most economical and efficient modes of their utilization.
To determine and establish year-wise physical and productive targets for the development and utilization of indigenous and renewable power resources.
To provide a “One Window Facility” to private sector investors in the power sector and coordinate with all relevant stakeholders, departments and organizations involved in the establishment of power generation projects of all types.
To liaise with relevant local and international agencies for facilitating and expediting power development projects in both the public and private sectors in accordance with applicable Power Policies.
To facilitate private sector investors in obtaining the necessary consents, approvals and licences from various agencies of the Local Governments, Provincial Government and Government of Pakistan.
To assist the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) in the determination and approval of tariffs for new power generation projects.
To provide technical and institutional support for the formulation, renewal and updating of policies and procedures relating to new power projects and associated investments, subject to prior approval of the Provincial Government.
To devise appropriate strategies for the creation of employment opportunities in the power sector.
The office of the Power Development Cell was initially established within the premises of the then-defunct Irrigation & Power Department, located at Baloch Colony, adjacent to The City School, P.A.F. Chapter, Karachi.
The Cell is presently housed in Barrack No. 8-A, Sindh Secretariat No. 4-A, Court Road, Karachi.
To manage the affairs of the Cell, staff was appointed on a contract basis during the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
As provided in the approved PC-I, the non-gazetted staff position was as follows:
| Designation | No. of Posts |
|---|---|
| Stenographer / Computer Operator | 01 |
| Clerk-cum-Computer Operator | 04 |
| Driver | 05 |
| Daftri | 02 |
| Naib Qasid | 05 |
| Total | 17 |
On the recommendation of the Power Development Cell, the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), in its meeting held on 30-08-2012, decided that the scheme should be transferred to the Non-Development side from the following financial year. Accordingly, a PC-IV was to be submitted for winding up the development scheme during the current financial year. The services of the contract employees appointed for the Cell were subsequently regularized through a Bill passed by the Sindh Assembly.
Under the umbrella of the Power Development Cell, two Gas-Fired Power Projects, each having a capacity of 50 MW, were initiated at Jhimpir Road, near Sindh Nooriabad Industrial Trading Estate, District Jamshoro, under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with the assistance of the PPP Unit, Finance Department, Government of Sindh.
For implementation of these projects, the companies Sindh Nooriabad Power Company and Sindh Nooriabad Power Company Phase-II were established.
M/s Technomen Kinetics (Pvt.) Ltd. was declared the successful bidder for both projects and was to hold 51% of the shares in each company, while the remaining 49% shares were to be held by the Government of Sindh.
A Small Hydropower Project based on Run-of-River (RoR) technology at RD-15, Rohri Canal, near Sukkur Barrage, Sukkur, was initiated under the PPP mode with the assistance of the PPP Unit, Finance Department, Government of Sindh.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) was invited, in response to which 07 firms participated, out of which 06 firms were declared qualified. Subsequently, the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued to the qualified bidders for submission to the department during the first week of July 2013.
A Feasibility Study for Hydropower Potential in Sindh based on Run-of-River (RoR) was awarded to M/s Ernst & Young Consortium through a competitive bidding process, with funding provided by the PPP Unit, Finance Department, Government of Sindh.
The study was scheduled for completion by the end of the relevant financial year. A Site Selection Analysis Report was prepared, based on which the consultant assisted the department in identifying suitable sites for pilot power generation projects, including the project initiated at RD-15, Rohri Canal.
The development of the Sindh Power Policy was awarded to M/s MEConsult (Pvt.) Ltd. through a competitive bidding process.
The consultant submitted the Draft Sindh Power Policy, while the process of its review and finalization was underway.
The future development strategy of the Power Development Cell included the following initiatives:
The Power Development Cell was proposed to be shifted to the Non-Development side and converted into a permanent Directorate of Power Development, Sindh, at Karachi.
Additional power development projects of various types, particularly hydropower projects, being among the economical sources of power generation, were proposed to be initiated under the PPP mode, with the assistance of the PPP Unit, Finance Department, Government of Sindh.
Upon completion of the RoR feasibility study during the relevant financial year, the approved scheme titled:
“Feasibility Study for Identification & Establishment of Small & Mini Power Generation Units on Various Perennial Canals, Lakes and Falls in Sindh”
with an estimated cost of Rs. 49.00 million, was proposed to be initiated through revision of its PC-II in order to accomplish the remaining objectives and activities.
Following the availability and approval of the Sindh Power Policy, the private sector was proposed to be encouraged to invest in power sector projects of all types. The objective was to help address the energy crisis, promote economic development and generate employment opportunities across the Province.
An Energy Conservation activity, with an estimated cost of Rs. 55.00 million, was included in the current year’s PSDP. However, its implementation remained pending due to a dispute between the Energy Department and Alternate Energy Department, Government of Sindh, regarding duplication of Rules of Business.
An ADP scheme for the Automation of Electric Inspectorates in Sindh, amounting to Rs. 90.00 million, was included in the current year’s PSDP. However, the scheme could not be initiated due to the establishment of regional offices of the newly created Electric Inspectorates at Larkana and Mirpurkhas.
A Research Study for the Development of Power Sector Projects, covering generation, transmission and utilization of electric power within the Province, was proposed for inclusion in the following year’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) at an estimated cost of Rs. 45.00 million.
A proposal for the development of policy, regulatory framework and procedures for resolving technical matters relating to the Oil & Gas Sector was also proposed for inclusion in the following year’s ADP. The proposed scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs. 80.00 million, was intended for the Oil & Gas Wing of the Energy Department, Government of Sindh.