Given the climate situation and the drive to switch to renewable energy sources, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has approved the installation of 2000 MW solar power projects in the public sector. The projects will enable the country to produce low-cost and environmentally friendly energy without causing any harm to the environment.

He was chairing the meeting to oversee the installation of 10000 MW solar power projects. He approved the generation of 2000 MW solar power energy by solar power panels. He said that “after the completion of these projects, the country’s dependence over non-renewable sources of energy will decrease drastically. This will also save the country precious foreign exchange,” according to a press release from the PM Office.

“In the first phase of the project, tube wells for agricultural purposes will be converted to solar power. This will reduce the fuel costs to the farmers and also enable the government to reduce its import of diesel. Issues such as line losses, power theft, and circular debt will also be solved in an incremental manner” he said.

“Sovereign guarantees will be given to the companies which invest in solar power projects. In this way, risks will be reduced for the companies and they will feel secure to invest more,” he said.

It was told at the meeting that an investors' conference on solarisation was held on September 14, which was attended by local and international investor companies from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Qatar. They expressed their utmost interest in investing in the sector.

Suitable sites for the installation of solar power panels are also being identified. A site near Muzaffargarh will be installed with solar power panels which will generate a total of 600-MW. Also, work was underway to identify the best place for the installation of 11-KV solar-powered feeder.

Power Division, Alternate Energy Development Board, Central Power Purchasing Company, NEPRA and other departments were being consulted to identify the optimal rate of tariff for solar energy. It was also told that government buildings were also being shifted to solar energy on a priority basis.

The prime minister stressed the need to meet the timelines of the project and inject solar energy into the national grid.

For the conversion of tube-wells to solar power, the prime minister formed a committee comprising National Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Secretary of Power Division, and a representative of the Water Resources Ministry.

Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Naveed Qamar, National Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Advisor to the PM Ahad Cheema and Special Assistant to the PM Jahanzeb Khan also attended the meeting.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk