Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that an amount of $3.5 billion is needed to overcome the prevailing 3,500MW power shortage.
Talking to journalists here on Thursday after inaugurating the 40KW micro wind turbine project at Kalar Kahar, he said that the government has paid circular debt of Rs 90 billion so far to ease the financial position of power producers and by end of June it will be reduced further. The demonstration project is given to Pakistan as a gift whereas 50MW plant costs Rs 120 million.
He claimed there will be no load-shedding by the year's end. "We have added 165MW to the distribution system after coming into helm", he claimed. "This is the first effort in the wind energy sector in Punjab and after successful completion of this demonstration project 100 MW 'wind farm' comprising 160 micro turbines would be established at the site," Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said after the inaugurating the demonstration project. Minister said that we are facing 3,500MW power shortage while we can save 1000MW by efficiently utilising the electricity, costing Rs 1billion.
The minister said although the demonstration project was small in magnitude, it was a major step forward as far as the overall wind energy development programme in the country is concerned. He said that the country is expected to face a shortage of 18,000MW by 2018 for which the government has long-term projects in the pipeline. Regarding Kalabagh Dam he said that no project will be launched without consensus of all the four provinces.
Ashraf said the commissioning of the project underlines PPP government's ambition of promoting and developing renewable energy sources in the country, which will help provide clean and secure energy and create new business opportunities. The Kalar Kahar project set up by Chinese firm Sunec is an addition to the growing list of Pakistan's wind energy projects. Last week, Prime Minister Gilani inaugurated the first commercial wind farm in Jhimpir (Sindh).
The Minister said that the people of Pakistan time and time again have proved that they can turn challenges into opportunities. The Minister emphasised the need of energy saving as it will help in overcoming power crisis to a large extent." He sought active support of media in promoting economic development, particularly uplift of infrastructure and energy sectors along with fighting extremism.
"Pakistan theoretically has wind energy potential of 350,000MW. Studies indicate that in Punjab the belt spreading from Kalar Kahar to Kalabagh is potential site for the development of wind energy projects" AEDB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arif Alaudin said.