Daily Times

The cheap and environmental-friendly wind energy, introduced late in Pakistan, is gaining popularity as it ensures quick return in a short cycle of three years. Pakistan has a 1,046 kilometres coastline in the South (Sindh and Balochistan), but most of the wind power projects are currently being installed at Gharo-Keti Bander and Hyderabad wind corridor. Nine wind turbine generator (WTG) projects are in advanced stage of development, while the other nine are under-construction and four have got their letters of intent (LoI). Many more are under process and documentation.

The estimated energy potential of the wind corridor is 50,000 MW. Besides Gharo, several other sites have been identified in coastal areas of Balochistan and Northern areas. Presently, five WTG projects each with 50MW capacity are operating at Gharo-Jhampir wind corridor. However, the nine other WTG projects which are in the phase of development will produce 450 MW and those in the stage of construction will produce 480MW wind energy. Similarly, four projects which have been given LoIs will produce 350 MW. Mohammad Kasim Hasham, whose company Uni-Energy has recently been selected for the award of project, said that with 100 per cent foreign financing the total cost of wind power project comes to $ 107.50 million, and in case of local financing the cost is estimated at $113 million.

The annual operational and maintenance cost in both the cases is only $2.196 million. Javed Akhtar group in a joint venture with Tapal and Candyland is also setting up 30 MW capacity WTG project that will become functional early next year. He lamented the loss of time in introducing wind power, but was optimistic that the private sector would actively engage and pull the nation out of energy crisis. He said his other company Dairy land with over 300 cow-heads is located near the Gharo-Jhampir area and will get the power from wind which is cheap and pollution free. So the government needs to complete this task as soon as possible.

SHAHDAD HASIL

Turbat