Sindh Energy Department in collaboration with World Bank has organized a two-day consultative workshop on Sindh Renewable Energy Development Programme (SREDP) here on Tuesday. According to the event organizers, the workshop is primarily aimed at bringing together the relevant public and private sector stakeholders to discuss the status, implementation models, opportunities and challenges in the off-grid and rooftop solar PV space in the context of Sindh Province.
Agha Wasif Abbas, Secretary Energy Department Sindh in his welcome address at the opening session of the event, said that the participants would identify key hurdles and map out steps and actions to address these under the Pakistan Solar and Renewable Energy Programme (PSREP) initiative during the event.
The Sindh government has initiated development of green energy projects in the province to meet the on-going power crises. The initiative is a part of the PSREP supported by the World Bank and its development programme.
Director Alternative Energy Department Sindh Engr Mehfooz Ahmad Qazi gave a detailed presentation on "Solar energy opportunities and challenges for Sindh, projects and plans current status of solar plants in Sindh." He said energy is the basic component that drives the economy of the country. The reason to slow economic growth in recent years is mainly attributed towards shortages of energy in the country. "Sindh is energy hub of Pakistan" he said adding that the province is blessed with proven abundant solar and wind energy potential. Today 7 percent of the country's gas production and 42 percent of the country's oil production is contributed by the province, he added.
He said Sindh Alternative Energy (SAE) Fund has been established in 2014 for the promotion of renewable energy technologies and development of the projects. He said as many as 350 schools in rural areas of Taluka Nangarparker were electrified through stand alone solar PV. Similarly, 7 villages near border area of the province were also electrified on Solar PV technology. In the current fiscal budget, some 5000 schools and 300 villages have been approved for the solar PV electrification. Patrick Barady, Deputy Director Office of Energy USAID Pakistan, and Makhdoom Fakhar Zaman, Chairman District Council Matiari also spoke on this occasion.