CCoE approves IGCEP with major focus on clean energy

News Desk

Islamabad: Cabinet committee on energy (CCoE) on Thursday approved the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan – known as IGCEP 2021-30 which puts a major focus on clean energy (hydel, Solar, Wind, Nuclear) by the year 2030.

It also puts emphasis on generating new electricity projects with the least cost basis.

IGCEP envisions the commissioning of a portfolio of new generation projects including many hydropower projects, Thar coal-based projects, K-3 nuclear power plant, and over 4,000MW of solar and wind-based renewable energy projects.

The Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) held a meeting under the Chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar here in Islamabad on Thursday.

Power Division presented the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan – known as IGCEP 2021-30, an indicative annual plan. The National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) has prepared it as per National Electricity Policy (NEP) Council of Common Interests (CCI) had approved it.

CCI had approved IGCEP the generation mix of 2022. Fossil fuel will shift to clean energy (hydel, Solar, Wind, Nuclear) by the year 2030.

Moreover, for the same period, the indigenous fuel-based generation against the imported fuel-based generation is going to improve from 69 % to 87 % of the total fuel-based generation.

After detailed consultations with all the provincial governments, the CCoE approved the IGCEP 2021-30. The government will complete all the federal and provincial projects already under implementation as per the commitments.

Meanwhile, there was consensus on the principle of new generation capacity addition only based on the least-cost basis. Such planning will target optimum future capacity addition at the most affordable cost, ensuring the cheapest electricity for consumers.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also briefed CCoE on the progress of the investigation of the shortage of petroleum products in the country in June 2020.

Moreover, the CCoE expressed its concerns over the delay in report finalization. FIA briefed the Committee on the progress made so far and ensured that substantial progress on findings will be shared with CCoE by end of September.