Solar and wind power plants: Zardari will seek Chinese help

Pakistan has decided to seek Chinese assistance to set up solar and wind power plants for generation of electricity in rural and urban areas. The formal request to Chinese government will be made during President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China scheduled from February 20-23. At present the country is depending more on thermal power, generated through furnace oil and gas.
Government wants to utilise other alternative resources that include wind and solar. Planning Commission under "National Vision and Strategic Planning," has recommended manufacturing of solar power units of 500 MW. At present, the country has the capability to generate 6,444 MW hydel power, 5,923 MW thermal through IPPs, 4,779 MW by Pepco and 325MW nuclear power. To promote solar energy, Planning Commission is taking initiative and has invited private companies to install solar panels on its rooftop. This will be a demonstration project and it would be installed on the other government buildings if it proved successful.
Sources revealed to theBusiness Recorder that Planning Commission is expecting 800 MW electricity from both alternative energy resources including wind and solar in its 5-year energy plan. Planning Commission has prepared 5-year energy plan to generate 2000 MW electricity from rental power plants, 5400 MW from three imported coal based power plants of 1800 MW power generation capacity each. Planning Commission is hoping to generate 1000 MW electricity from Thar coal reserves, 1000 MW by imported gas under Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, 300 MW from nuclear and 4100 MW from independent power producers (IPPs).
Sources said that President Asif Ali Zardari would request his Chinese counterpart to invest in other energy projects like Diamer Bhasha, Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project, Munda, Akhori and Rohtas dams that are in the pipeline. The Chinese government would also be requested to invest in Thar coal reserves for power generation purposes. Various studies indicate that Thar coal has 30 percent moisture and large quantity of nitrogen. Thar coal reserves can be used for coal gasification, fertiliser production, diesel fuels production and power plant.
Sources said that two imported coal based power plants would be set up at Khalifa Point in Balochistan and one imported coal based power plant at Port Qasim under a public-private partnership strategy.