Pakistan has potential to generate 50,000 MW power

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan possesses hydro potential of 50,000 megawatts (MW) and most of the potential exists in KPK and FATA, participants at a two-day workshop on “Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE)” were told.

Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) had arranged the workshop that concluded last evening, revealed a press release issued on Thursday.

The workshop was aimed at developing a consensus amongst all stakeholders both in public and private sector on a legal framework for the PURE project, delineating role of the stakeholders in implementing various components of the project under set targets.

Concluding the workshop, the Chief Executive Officer AEDB, Arif Alauddin said that Pakistan possesses hydro potential of 50,000MW.

“Most of this potential lies in the Northern Pakistan including KPK/FATA. In order to explore this potential, the AEDB has taken several initiatives to help set up small hydro projects (up to 50 MW) in the areas; the PURE programme is one such initiative, which focuses on strengthening the capacity for hydro project planning and management, including watershed management, and promotion of a sound legal, institutional and regulatory framework to ensure sustainability of project investments,” he told.

He said 103 Hydro plants are being installed in the KPK and Gilgit Baltistan areas with the AKRSP/UNDP-GEF support with an aggregate capacity of 15 MW. “Another project of 250 plants is under preparation for the same areas.”

He informed that feasibility studies for top 25 hydro sites in Sindh, Punjab and KPK have been prepared with the cumulative capacity of 284.14 MW and with the GTZ support to help the provinces solicit private investments in hydel power sector.

He also informed that AEDB provided through ADB a Multi Year Financial Framework ($500 million) to the provinces for the public sector projects. From this line, 10 projects were under implementation — 5 in Punjab, 3 in KPK and 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Under this programme, the Sindh government is being provided with support to prepare projects under this facility.

He said that AEDB is providing full support to the provinces, and as a result, some hydro projects are been initiated in the private sector. “In this connection, a Hydel PPA for 1 MW has been signed between PESCO and Blue Star Energy; whereas 10 private investors have been issued with LOIs for establishment of small hydro projects with a total capacity of 142 MW at different location at the Punjab,” he told.

The Chief Executive Officer reiterated the AEDB’s commitment to develop and implement various ARE-based schemes to meet the energy requirements particularly in remote areas through private and public sectors; the PURE project was an initiative to fulfill the commitment, he added.

He said that almost 40 million people in Pakistan have no access to electricity or other energy resources and they have to pay more for energy. Such activities would enable the government to make cheaper and cleaner resources to poor in the remote areas of Pakistan. He further informed that the government was already engaged in developing solar and wind energy farms to cater the energy crises in Pakistan.

The representatives of UNDP assured their full support to the PURE Project by developing income generation opportunities for the people of Chitral and Gilgit Baltistan areas. He appreciated the AEDB’s efforts for implementation of the PURE. They assured AKRSP that PURE project would be implemented with consultation and active participation of the local communities in the area and would cater with the energy crises by providing financial support through development and implementation of renewable energy sector projects.