PACE OF PRIVATISATION OF POWER SECTOR TO ACCELERATE-JAMSHORO POWER COMPANY BIDDING BY JUNE 2006- Dr. Hafeez Shaikh

Karachi, March 01, 2006

Addressing a pre-bid meeting held at Karachi today for the privatization of Jamshoro Power Company (JPC) Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh Federal Minister for Privatisation & Investment said that electricity was an important sector after the privatization of KESC and this area demanded momentum and the pace of privatization in this sector would accelerate.

The meeting was informed that six pre-qualified have completed the due diligence of JPC in the data room, which was opened in April 2003. The parties include 1. Al-Abbas Power Generation Limited, 2. Engro Chemicals Pakistan Limited, 3. National Power Generation & Supply Company Limited, 4. China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation, 5. Metro Securities (Pvt) Ltd and 6. United Bank Limited/ SIEMENS/ GAZ Power. Today four parties attended the pre-bid moot except parties at Sl No: 1 and 3. It  was also disclosed that the bidding of JPC would be held by June this year.

The moot deliberated upon the process and responded to the queries of the prospective bidders for the privatization of JPC. The transaction is now at a very advanced stage. After today's meeting the next phase of finalization of bid documents and the bidding arrangements for JPC would be completed.

Mr. M. Tahsin Khan Iqbal Secretary PC, Mr. Mahmood Shah Member PC Board, representative of NEPRA and other stake holders were also present during the meeting.

Jamshoro Power Company Limited (JPC) located in Sindh Province of Pakistan was established as a result of the unbundling of Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). It was organized to take over all the properties, rights, assets, obligations and liabilities of three thermal power stations namely Jamshoro, Kotri and Lakhra with a total nameplate capacity of 1204 MW. The company was incorporated in August 1998 as a public limited company under Pakistan Companies Ordinance 1984. Subsequently in June 2002, the Lakhra Power Station with a nameplate capacity of 150 MW was spun out of JPC into a new company, Lakhra Power Generation Company Limited. JPC has been granted a Generation License by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to engage in generation business pursuant to the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 (NEPRA Act).

The Government of Pakistan intends to sell a majority 51% interest in JPC including management control to a strategic investor or a consortium of strategic and financial investors. The GoP intends to hold 49% of the equity beyond privatisation. JPC facilities are located within the environs of Hyderabad with key connections to the NTDC grid to enable power to be injected to major load centers in the South of the country including Karachi. JPC facilities compete with other grid connected power plants in Pakistan for position in the merit order including hydel plants and would remain important part of overall generation portfolio of Pakistan for many years to come. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): JPC is to be sold pursuant to a PPA with multi-year tariff to be approved by NEPRA. The PPA has been carefully designed in accordance with recognized international utility practice to allow full recovery of prudent costs.

The economic life of JPC assets if well maintained would extend beyond the PPA term to offer extra value capture in post PPA. Regulatory Framework: JPC would have the transparent oversight of NEPRA, Pakistan Power Sector's independent regulator, established in 1997 to protect interests of both the investor and the sector.