There exists a great deal of potential for alternate energy in the province of Sindh. This was stated by Sindh Minister for Irrigation and Power Engr. Syed Murad Ali Shah.
He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the 25th multi-topic international symposium of the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Pakistan (IEEEP) Karachi Centre, which began at a local hotel on Wednesday.
This silver jubilee symposium has been dedicated to late Professor Engr. Muhammad Noman in view of his immense services to the profession as well as to the cause of humanity. The theme of the two-day Symposium 2010 is "Indigenous Resources- the Way Forward".
The chief guest further stated that there was a potential of up to 50,000 megawatts as far as the wind energy was concerned and that there was also a great deal of potential for the solar energy. He was of the view that the work was going ahead in these spheres but admitted that the pace was slow. With regard to the Thar Coal, Murad Ali Shah pointed out that work in progress at six blocks.
He said that in Block-2 there was a joint venture of the Government of Sindh and the Engro Power. There was a project of 600 to 1,000 megawatts to be produced by the Engro Power by the year 2015-2016, he added. He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed with Pepco for a power plant of 1,200 megawatts.
The Minister said Dr Samar Mubarakmand, Member Science and Technology, Planning Commission of Pakistan, was also working on a block of Thar Coal and the project was of underground coal gasification. The first pilot project of this is expected to come into operation in two years' time.
Later, in his press talk while replying a question, he pointed out that, "We have submitted a review application to Nepra for the Chashma-Jehlum Link Canal, which has been accepted. We have presented our case and would come up with the arguments when asked." Hamdard University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Nasim A. Khan presented the keynote address. He was of the view that the engineers should play their full role towards the development process and come up with designs and projects in the market.
Dr Nasim said the potential in alternate energy was quite immense and that 50,000 megawatts could be generated through wind energy. He also called for paying attention towards the human resource development and training of the engineers. IEEP Karachi Centre Chairman Engr. Tahir Saleem presented the welcome address. According to organisers, a total of 17 research papers would be presented at the technical sessions spreading over two days. One of these technical sessions will be for the students' seminar.