Textiles seek details on IPP agreements

Islamabad:

As independent power producers (IPPs) face receiving billions of rupees in capacity charges, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has approached government institutions such as the Power Division and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). asking them to provide details of IPP agreements.

In a letter, Aptma Secretary General Shahid Sattar said that under Article 19-A of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the right of access to information on all matters of public importance and under the Right to Information Act, In 2017, the association wanted to see the information on the PPAs established under the 1994, 2002, 2008 and 2015 energy policies.

It sought information on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), amendments and copies of all PPAs executed between the Government of Pakistan and IPPs.

The textile industries have particularly demanded the disclosure of details of amendments made to PPAs since inception till date, including those after the major amendments made to the Nepra Act in 2018.

They requested copies of all extension agreements involving PPAs, including terms and conditions.

Look for details of any financial benefits provided following extension agreements and settlement agreements, including copies of all settlement agreements.

Aptma wants to see any financial benefits extended in accordance with arbitration proceedings, both nationally and internationally, and in the final decisions made in those proceedings.

Other details requested by the union included information on any proceedings initiated to terminate agreements with the PPAs, the reasons for initiating such proceedings and the current status and results.

The textile industries have urged the government to provide detailed information on projects set up under build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) models.

“This request is made in the public interest to promote transparency and accountability in matters of public importance,” Aptma noted in the letter.

“The information provided will be used for research and analysis to better understand energy governance and policy implementation.” The association cited a recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which said that “the right to access information is a bulwark against corruption and corrupt practices. It enables the citizen to know how the resources belonging to him are being served and how they are being used and spent.”