AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has said that by the end of 2012, Pakistan should be producing 500 MW of wind power. For this purpose, the President has called for periodic reports to be submitted to the presidency indicating the progress made and the bottle necks encountered.
During a briefing by Alternate Energy Development Board, Board of Revenue Sindh and Sindh Investment Board on wind power projects here at Bilawal House Karachi, it was informed that three wind power projects of 50MW each would start producing power within a year while the work on another 10 projects of 50 MW each would start early next year. The President was informed that another 5 projects were at initial stage of financial close in 2012.
The President directed that land allocation process for 18 other wind power projects also be expedited.
Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar said that the President was informed that all projects companies involved with wind power projects have suggested announcement of upfront tariff to save at least six months project time which is spent in Tariff determination by the concerned authority.
The President asked NEPRA to examine the suggestion and expressed the hope that NEPRA would soon arrive at a consensus upfront tariff regime for all the projects till the capacity to produce 2000 MW is achieved. However, the option of opting for normal tariff determination system would remain open for the companies opting not to go for the upfront tariff, he remarked.
The President said that incentives would be given to the companies that would be able to start their power productions within one year. He also directed for finalization of schemes for construction of road networks in the areas of the power projects.
During the briefing, the President expressed satisfaction that Zorlu Energy of Turkey, FFC Wind Energy and CWE of China, each with 50 MW capacity have reached at advanced stage and would be able to generate power by December 2012.
The President said that such project were a good start in the quest for finding alternate resources of energy which are efficient as well as would help to reduce dependence on traditional modes of electricity generation and at the same time expand the power supply capacity to remote locations where grid expansion is not practical.
The President said that Wind Energy being clean and renewable source of energy was also the world’s fastest growing energy resource and Pakistan needs to tap all available resources including that of solar energy.
The President said that the demand for energy has increased in tremendous proportions in the last few decades and is expected to increase further in the coming years. Meeting the energy requirements, the President said, was also crucial for our development therefore we need to utilize all available resources for meeting the energy challenge.
Those were present during the meeting included among others Provincial Ministers Ms. Shazia Mari, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Mir Nadir Khan Magsi, Agha Siraj Durrani, Mr. Sharjeel Memon, Chief Secretary Sindh, Mr. Shahzar Shamoon, Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), and concerned Provincial secretaries.
Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Water and Power, Malik Asif Hayat, Secretary to the President, Ms. Fouzia Wahab and Mr. Arif Allauddin Chairman, Alternate Energy Board were also present during the meeting.
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