ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has urged the federal government to renegotiate existing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) installed under the 2015 power policy and shift towards more economical electricity sources free of capacity charges.
Talking to media here on Wednesday, the APTMA chairman emphasized that the prevailing exorbitant electricity tariffs severely impacted industrial operations, resulting in numerous closures and widespread job losses, thus hampering the economic growth. He highlighted that Pakistan’s installed generation capacity exceeded 40,000 MW, while the peak demand and transmission capacity stood at only 25,000 MW. This discrepancy has led to significant excess and underutilized generation capacity. Despite this, the government is obligated to make Rs 2 trillion in capacity payments to 40 IPP companies annually, a burden that stifles economic activities as these payments are made even when no electricity is generated or supplied.
He said it was evident that the capacity charges constituted two-thirds of the total cost, with the remaining one-third attributed to fuel costs. Investigations have shown that IPPs have been enjoying returns exceeding 73% in dollar terms, a figure unusually high compared to international standards. These problematic contractual arrangements, stemming from the 1994 Power Policy, have led to an escalating circular debt, which reached Rs 2.64 trillion in February 2024. Furthermore, he pointed out that the guarantees indexed to the US dollar meant that any depreciation of the Pakistani rupee increased returns for IPPs, adding further financial strain on the government and public. He noted that the initial return on equity for IPPs was set at 18% and later reduced to 12% in the 2002 Power Policy, which remained high compared to global norms. Comparisons with similar projects in other countries suggest that many IPPs were funded through inflated invoicing on capital goods, leading to perpetual returns on ghost equity. He remarked that the tariff for coal-based plants in Pakistan was 9 cents, significantly higher than the 5.6 cents for similar plants in Bangladesh. In the FY25 power purchase price, imported coal-based plants have the highest capacity charge of Rs 60.48/kWh compared to Rs 26.01/kWh for the second-highest capacity charge among all thermal generation. He mentioned that misreporting and overbilling by IPPs were common as tariffs were guaranteed under take-or-pay contracts protected by the international law. He asserted that the actual oil consumption of several oil-based plants was less than billed and attempts to audit discrepancies were often obstructed through legal means. Operation and maintenance costs are also overstated, with actual expenses billed at significantly higher rates. He warned that the recent surge in electricity rates threatened to trigger civil unrest and discontent among the business community and a comprehensive review of IPP agreements, price re-evaluation within legal bounds, and improved oversight to prevent over-invoicing are essential to prevent a complete economic collapse and social chaos. Examining the energy infrastructure for clauses related to misinformation and fraud is crucial. The federal government must devise a strategy to address IPP issues and ensure affordable electricity prices for the industry in the national interest.