Agreements have been signed between the Punjab government and Chinese and Danish companies for setting up 2,320 MW energy projects in the South Punjab. These agreements have been signed in two separate ceremonies at Model Town on Wednesday and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest. Under the agreement signed between Punjab government and Denmark, Danish wind power generation international company VESTAS will set up four wind power plants of 250 MW each at Rajanpur in South Punjab whereas under the second agreement, renowned Chinese Company Hauneng Shandong will set up two coal power plants of 660 megawatt each at Rahim Yar Khan. The chief minister gave Letter of Intent to Vice President of VESTAS Gerard Carew during the function held with regard to the agreement of 1000 MW energy project between Punjab government and Danish company VESTAS, under which four wind power projects of 250 MW each will be set up in South Punjab on which investment of $ 2 billion will be made.
Talking to the media men on the occasion, Sharif said that last year it was announced that there are vast opportunities of generating energy in South Punjab and sites have been identified where plants of generating electricity through wind can be set up. He said that former Danish Ambassador in Pakistan Jesper Moller Sorensen has extended cooperation for identifying wind corridor. He said that wind corridor was identified with the cooperation of world renowned company VESTAS upon which we are thankful to Danish company for providing free assistance in this regard. The chief minister said that as a result of these efforts, a big achievement has been made with regard to one 1,000 MW wind power project between Danish Company VESTAS and the Punjab government. He said that four units of 250 MW each will be set up for generating electricity through wind in South Punjab and in the first phase 250 MW will be completed in 2018. He said that this project of generating electricity through wind in Punjab will be one of the big projects of the world which will be helpful in overcoming shortage of energy. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, work is being carried out round the clock for overcoming energy crisis. He said that work is also continuing on a number of energy projects in Sindh, KP, Balochistan, Punjab and Azad Kashmir and darkness will be removed from Pakistan after completion of these projects.
Sharif requested investors of the country to come forward and make investment in energy projects and he will extend full cooperation as a “khadim”. He said the Punjab government and energy institutions will provide all possible facilities. He said that neither a single penny will have to be given as a bribe nor time will be wasted. He said that we will provide all possible facilities and cooperation for implementing energy projects. He asked the investors to come forward and play their role for eliminating energy crisis from the country. He said it was an opinion that there are no prospects of generating energy through wind in Punjab but VESTAS has identified wind corridors in Punjab and now investors should come forward. The chief minister said that work is continuing on 1320 megawatt coal power plant in Sahiwal. He said that the work was started on this project six and a half months ago and 50.8 percent construction work has been completed so far. He said that normally such projects are completed in five years.
He said that projects of similar capacity have also been completed in China in four years, however, Sahiwal coal power plant will be completed much before stipulated period. Sharif said that hard work, determination and honesty are essential for achieving dignified status in the comity of nations and marching forward on the path of development and prosperity. He said the Punjab government has started work on the biggest wind energy projects of the country. He said the Punjab government wants to add one 100 MW megawatt electricity to be generated through wind with the collaboration of VESTAS wind system to national grid. Sharif said that Pakistan is facing energy crisis and the Punjab government is finding new prospects in renewable energy sector for eliminating energy crisis.
He said Denmark is one of the founders of wind energy for a long time and VESTAS is prominent internationally. He congratulated Punjab government and VESTAS for enhancing cooperation in a shortest period. He expressed his belief that this project will be helpful in eliminating energy crisis. Political Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Jesper Moler Sorensen who served as ambassador in Pakistan from 2013 to 2015 addressing the function said that VESTAS had been introduced to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He saidt Pakistan is coming as a surprising market for Danish companies in energy sector and is marching forward in the field of renewable energy where Danish companies are very strong.