KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced to provide at least 200,000 solar home systems in rural areas in the Fiscal Year 2019-20.
This was announced by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah while presenting the Sindh Budget for FY 2019-20 at the Sindh Assembly on Friday.
While presenting the budget, the chief minister said Thar coal mining and power projects have added 660 megawatts of electricity to the national grid this year. Thar coal initiative will not only start a new era of social development of Sindh and Pakistan but also alleviate the long-standing current account deficit of the country.
The allocation for the energy sector has been increased in the non-development budget from Rs23.883 billion in 2018-19 to Rs24.920 billion in 2019-20.
The CM said that conventional energy from Thar coal and renewable energy from Jhimpir wind corridor would improve the energy mix profile and also fulfill the growing energy requirement. The energy department has facilitated the provision of electricity and gas to numerous villages. Different projects relating to the provision of renewable energy to villages and schools were completed in the year 2018-19. Reconciliation of electric connections of Sindh Government and its entities with Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) and K-electric caused saving of billions of rupees.
Moreover, an allocation of Rs. 590 million has been earmarked for electrification to achieve the following major milestones. More than 570 villages to be provided electricity by June 2020 and some 248 primary health facilities to be given electricity through Solar PV technology.
Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP) with World Bank support to provide 420 MW on-grid and rooftop solar installations. 200,000 households in rural areas would be provided solar home systems, the CM added.
