Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad
The government of France has extended technical assistance worth Euros 0.5 million for capacity building of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) project under Ministry of Energy.
In this regard, a grant finance agreement was signed on Tuesday by Secretary Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Dr Syed Pervaiz Abbas, Ambassador of France Dr Marc Barety and Country Director of the French Agency for Development (AFD) Philippe Steinmetz.
According to a statement issued by the embassy this technical assistance will support PPIB in its mandate of hydroelectricity sector development in Pakistan while enhancing competitiveness of renewable power generation.
Such benefits will contribute to improving affordability and scaling up supply of energy while mitigating the impacts of power generation on climate and environment, in line with the policies of the Government of Pakistan.
This technical assistance will focus mainly on developing a mechanism for tariff based bidding of hydroelectric power projects including preparation of standard prequalification documents and requests for proposals. It will also help PPIB in matters related to the development of hydroelectric projects in the country including feasibility studies review, said the statement.
Capacity building of PPIB staff provision of technical, financial, legal and management trainings also come under the ambit of this aid.
The project will contribute to the government of Pakistan’s strategy to develop green energy, reduce greenhouse gasses emissions, in line with the French Government’s agenda of promoting climate friendly projects, said the statement.
France, through the French Agency for Development, is providing technical and financial support in energy and urban development sector in Pakistan, where Euros 700 million has been committed since 2016.
