Daily Times

KARACHI: “Sindh is the only province producing 70 percent of gas and 42 percent of oil”, claimed Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah in a workshop held on “Pakistan Solar and Renewable Energy Program ‘jointly organised Sindh government and World Bank in the local hotel here on Monday.

The workshop was jointly organised by Sindh government and Work Bank, which was aimed to provide all the participants a forum to discuss, share experiences, provide guidance and devise strategies and to develop a road map for successful implementation of SREDP.

“Sindh has the ability to produce 5500 MW power; 130 MW will be produced from hydro and 1500 MW can be produced from wastage and other sources”, claimed Murad.

A lot has been done for renewable energy previously, but the province still requires continuous efforts to ensure provision of electricity in the remaining areas to convert already functioning conventional unit on solar power.

An agreement was also signed between Sindh Energy department and K-Electric under which the Chief Minister’s House will be shifted on solar energy.

Secretary Energy said that Sindh is the first province to lead in power transmission business. “Our company STDC has successfully completed 1st provincial transmission line from Nooriabad to Karachi”.

One-fourth of our rural population does not have access to electricity while those having access to grid are suffering long hours of load shedding.

“Sindh is the only province which has a dedicated land grant policy for RE projects”, the development of wind corridors in Jhampir and Gharo are in full swing. 15 projects are producing 785 MW while 9 projects of 450 MW are underway which will be added to the national grid by mid of 2018. The 1st public private partnership project of 100 MW on gas is also complete.

“The SREDP will mainly Endeavour to divert conventional methods of energy production to the state of the art RE technologies in four fields including Roof top solar in grid connected areas, smart mini, micro grids in the rural areas, a model grid connected 50 MW power project at Manjhand and ensuring standards and quality controls for new solar equipments under capacity building component”.

Director Alternative energy, Engr Mehfooz Ahmed Qazi shared that the duration of SREDP will be initially for three years which may be extended based on the project achievements and results.

“The World Bank has assured us of at least US$ 100 million soft loan while the assessed cost of the project is USD 122 M. Request is being processed through Economic Affairs Division”.

Participants from NEPRA, State Bank of Pakistan, AEDB, Ministry of Water & Power, Ministry of Planning Development & Reform, Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy technologies, KE, HESCO, SEPCO, IESCO, USAID, IFC, representatives of the provincial Govts of Punjab, KPK, and Balochistan also actively contributed to the Program.

Published in Daily Times, August 2^nd , 2017.