Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahemd Khan Leghari has said that Power Division is planning to establish a renewable energy institute to conduct research and propose policy matters to the government in the field of alternative energy.

The minister expressed these view in a meeting with delegation of World Bank and IFC Co-headed by World Bank Vice President for the South Asia, Annettee Dixon and IFC Vice President for the region Snezana Stoijkvic, on Friday.

The minister, while explaining the potential of renewable energy sources in Pakistan said, “In order to tap the resources and pass on its due benefits to consumers, the government has made the decision to call competitive bidding for the renewable energy power generation in future.”

He also invited the World Bank and IFC to extend assistance in the establishment of renewable energy institute. He said that Power Division was also working on indigenous resources mobilisation for the establishment and sustainability of the renewable energy institute.

The minister underscored the need of investment in the power distribution sector to modernise the existing infrastructure.

He told the delegation that amendments to the NEPRA Act would be finalised soon. He said that the Power Division was working on concept of “wheeling” with SECP to make the electricity as a tradable commodity.

Published in Daily Times, January 27^th 2018.