More than 30 alternate energy projects including wind and solar are in pipeline which would yield over 1500 MW power for the national grid by next year. Since coming to power, present coalition government has taken a numerous steps to create an enabling environment for investment in Renewable Energy projects and now private sector investors have shown keenness to invest in this sector. Giving details, an official at Alternate Development Energy Board (AEDB) on Tuesday said the wind projects which are in advanced stages of implementation would produce 556 MW. These are 50 MW of Fauji Fertilizer Construction at the cost of $133.56 million, Zorlu Enerji Pak of 56 MW at the cost of $143.60, Three Gorges Construction of 50 MW at the cost of $134.75, Foundation-1 of 50 MW at the cost of $128.69 million, Foundation-2 of 50 MW at the cost of $128.70 million, Lucky Energy of 50 MW at the cost of $132.53 million, Sapphire Power of 50 MW at the cost of $128.87 million, Tenaga of 50 MW at the cost of $129.67 million, Generasi Power of 50 MW at the cost of $132.56 million, Master Energy 50 MW at the cost of $133.68 million and Gul Ahmed 50 MW at the cost of $132.87 million. He said the projects which are providing electricity to the grid are six MW Wind (Zorlu Energy), 7 MW Biogas project by Shakarjang Sugar Mills, and 27 MW plant at Al-moiz Sugar Mills in D.I.Khan. The official said AEDB had successfully completed a Rural Electrification Project under which 3000 Solar Home Systems were provided in 49 villages of district Tharparker, Sindh. He said the new projects from biomas to energy are also in advance stages and would produce more than 60 MW energy for the national grid and help control loadshedding. He said NEPRA has also issued generation license to 14 companies to produce more than 200 MW energy. Moreover, the official while giving details about solar projects, said during the present government Parliamentarian Sponsored Village Electrification Programme (PSVEP) was launched under which 119 Solar Home Systems have been provided to 34 villages of Deh Tiko Baran District Jamshoro, Sindh and 200 Solar Home Systems in 06 Villages of Karak, District Khuzdar, Balochistan. The systems are operational and the users are satisfied as 29 new schemes under this programme have been prepared for implementation, he added. Regarding micro hydro power projects, the official said with the assistance of Global Environment Facility (GEF), a micro hydro project titles “Productive use of Renewable Energy” has been launched in Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu where more than 90 units of Micro Hydro power are being installed.
What's the point of having power generation projects in the pipeline? When will these projects be commissioned? Is there a kick back issue involved? In fact the reputation of this government is so bad that the first thought that comes to mind is that it must be the kick back issue which is delaying these projects. In the last year this govt has to show that they can deliver at least in this vital area. Actions must speak louder than the words.
Not enough to bridge ever widening gap between demand and supply. Govt must make efforts to undertake more projects on larger scale to generate more power. In the wake of fast economic and social growth the need of the hour is that Govt. make huge investment in collaboration of private sector in the energy sector.
SHAHID HUSSEIN QABOOLPURIA,
LAHORE, PAKISTAN
Comments are closed.