Gharo-Jhumpir power project to usher in new era of prosperity

Hyderabad Commissioner Jamal Mustafa has said that Gharo-Jhumpir Windmills Power Project will bring economic prosperity and convert the area into a developed zone.
The commissioner said this while holding a meeting at his office with Three Gorges South Asia Investment Corporation Chief Representative Wang Shenliang, who is also the Director of Three Gorges First Wind Farm Pakistan Limited.
The Advisor to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gharo-Jhumpir Wind Power Project Tanveer Afzal Mirza, DIG Hyderabad Naeem Bhuroka and other officers from line departments also attended the meeting.
On the occasion, the divisional commissioner said that initially Gharo-Jhumpir Windmills Power Project was designed to produce 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity, however its capacity of power generation could be further enhanced from 50 to 500 MW by implementing its different phases.
During the discussion, the commissioner informed that per survey carried out by alternate energy experts, the total potential of Gharo-Jhumpir Wind Corridor was to produce more than 40,000 kilowatts (KW) electricity which according to him was sufficient to meet the country’s energy shortfall.
The commissioner also said that this project would not only produce alternate energy to fulfill the country’s energy requirements but would also provide income and employment opportunities to the local people. Besides, the corporation engaged in this project was also interested to facilitate the local people in education, health and clean drinking water sectors under the Corporate Social Responsibility scheme, he added.
Responding to the proposal of Shenliang for establishing a school for the children of the area, the commissioner directed the assistant commissioner of Jhumpir to conduct a survey in coordination with the education officer and identify a place where such an educational facilities was most needed.
The commissioner also proposed to the corporation officer for extending other facilities like provision of clean drinking water, health care and developing forestry around the Windmills Power Project to settle the dust problem.
Meanwhile, Mirza, while deliberating on the matter, said that the groundwork on Gharo-Jhumpir Windmills Power Project was launched in February 2013 and it would be completed till December 2014.
He informed that 100 MW would be enhanced in second phase of the project while 350 KW would be enhanced by completing its 3rd phase.
He was of the view that the corporation would be able to complete all three phases in three to four years.
Furthermore, he said that power project was being executed at an estimated cost of US $135 million under B.O.T basis.
Moreover, Mirza said that this power project would bring a revolutionary change in the social and economic status of the local people as this project was going to create numerous job opportunities for the local population.
He also said that the corporation had planned to establish Windmills Turbine Factory (WTF) at the project site for Tower Manufacturing.
He said that this step would not only create a technical force at the local level but would also ensure the transfer of technology to the Pakistani people.