The Punjab Assembly on Thursday adopted the Punjab Power Development Board Bill 2010 (PPDB) unanimously to break the province’s dependency on federal electricity.
The bill declares a commitment from the province to generate self-sufficient electricity through the facilitation of private investors for hydel, thermal, wind, solar and biomass projects.
It allows the Punjab government to establish the Punjab Power Development Board to provide a One-Window Facility to private investors intending to undertake power generation projects. The PPDB a shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to enter into agreements, acquire, hold and dispose of both moveable and immoveable property. It will be composed of at least eleven members including a chairman. The PPDB chairman will be the Chief Minister Punjab or a person appointed by him. The managing director will be secretary/member of the board. At least two members of the board will be representatives of private power producers.
It allows the provincial government to determine the qualifications and mode of appointment of private sector members. Board members, other than ex-officio members, will be appointed for a period of three years, extendable for a second term of three years on board recommendation.
It will facilitate private investors to set up of power projects under the Punjab Power Generation Policy-2006 as amended. It will conduct negotiations with prospective developers on implementation plans, feasibility studies and operational plans. It will be authorised to issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) regarding the use of canal or river water and land for power generation. It will explore hydel potential from sources other than canals and the development of non-conventional sources of energy such as solar, wind and biomass. The bill mover Law Minister Rana Sanaullah after the unanimous approval of the bill said Punjab needed 12,000 megawatt (MW) and faced a 4,000 MW shortage. He said the shortage will be covered in two years.
He said around 100 locations for potential hydel projects had been explored while the potential to generate electricity from sugar mills using biomass. He said talks with Chinese firms to start power project in Punjab were under way.
He said he was grateful that the opposition adopted the bill. He said the government agreed to an amendment proposed by the opposition after the opposition withdrew other proposed amendments. PPP-backed Shaukat Basra and PML-Q’s Amna Ulfat congratulated the house and appreciated the government for accepting a first amendment in a bill during its three year tenure.
The bill has been sent to the Punjab Governor for his recommendations and approval. After his signature the bill will become an Act. The PA also adopted two other bills, The Registration (Amendment) Bill-2011 and The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Bill-2011 unanimously.