ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Finance Minister Asad Umer presided over a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCOE) today. The committee decided that there would be no load shedding during Sehri and Iftar in Ramazan and directed the Power Division to ensure uninterrupted supply of power in this regard.
CCOE expressed concern over complaints of longer duration of load shedding in rural areas and asked the Power Division to adopt uniformed policy for load management in urban and rural areas and no discrimination should be made in this regard.
The Power Division presented its Internal Audit Report on quarterly Indexation by NEPRA. The report found that NEPRA had used high exchange rates during determination of quarterly indexation. The committee asked the Power Division to ascertain from the Regulator whether it has judicially applied its mind while determining the exchange rates. The Regulator should also be asked to indicate the remedial measures for rectifying the mistake, for the future and to determine how the losses incurred, if any, could be made good.
Power Division briefed the Committee about its successful recovery campaign being carried out against the defaulters. It informed that the recovery campaign had successfully achieved its objectives by collecting Rs318,264 million from November 2018 to February 2019 and arresting 4,225 defaulters. The finance minister appreciated the performance of Power Division in this regard.
CCOE was also updated on Renewable Energy Policy, 2019 and was informed that the draft policy had been circulated among relevant quarters and would be submitted to the Cabinet in the first half of May 2019.
While giving presentation to the committee, Petroleum Division informed that it needed 350,000 metric tons Furnace oil so as to meet energy requirements of the country for the months of May-June 2019. The Committee decided to place the matter for approval before Federal Cabinet to allow one time import of furnace oil.
