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ISLAMABAD: The French Agency for Development (AFD) will provide a technical assistance grant of 0.5 million euros for capacity building of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) under an agreement signed on Tuesday.
Secretary Economic Affairs Division Dr Syed Pervaiz Abbas, French Ambassador Dr Marc Baréty and AFD Country Director Philippe Steinmetz signed the grant financing agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
The French technical assistance will support PPIB – which is governed by the Ministry of Power — in its mandate of hydroelectricity sector development in Pakistan while enhancing competiveness 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.
The assistance will help PPIB develop a mechanism for tariff based bidding of hydroelectric power projects including preparation of standard prequalification documents and requests for proposals; assist PPIB in matters related to the development of hydroelectric projects in the country including feasibility studies review; and capacity building of PPIB staff; provision of technical, financial, legal and management trainings.
The project will contribute to the government’s strategy to develop green energy, reduce greenhouse gasses emissions, in line with the French government’s agenda of promoting climate friendly projects.
Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2020
