ECC may approve security agreements for power projects

Sunday, January 03, 2010
By Aftab Maken

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet will approve standardised security agreements for hydropower projects under the policy for power generation projects 2002, says agenda of the meeting made available to The News on Saturday.

The meeting, which is scheduled to be held on January 5 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, will take up an 11-point agenda, submitted by various economic ministries.

Three summaries of the Water and Power Division will be tabled before the committee for consideration that include implementation, energy efficiency and energy conservation (EEEC) initiative, the National Energy Saving Programme, implementation status of private sector hydropower projects and standardised security agreements for hydropower projects, said the agenda.

The meeting will also take up the summary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources regarding blending of ethanol into motor gasoline (E-10) and the pricing mechanism, it said. The meeting will also re-examine the issues identified by the sub-committee constituted by the ECC for revival of Risalpur Export Processing Zone, it added.

The agenda further stated that the meeting will also consider the strategy regarding regular supply and rational support price policy for major and minor crops. The summary has been submitted by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Two summaries have been submitted by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), one regarding the revision of re-lending policy of foreign loans/ credits by the provincial governments while the second one seeking the approval for passing on German grant/soft loan to the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) for livelihood support and promotion of small community infrastructure projects, said the agenda.

Besides these summaries of the economic ministries, the meeting will be given a presentation on commodity operation financing by the State Bank of Pakistan. The meeting will also review the implementation status of the decisions of the previous meeting and key economic indicators, it added.