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650mw wind energy by 2007, says AEDB chairman

Staff Report

KARACHI: Air Marshal Shahid Hamid (retd), Chairman of the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), said here on Saturday 13 leading investors had been given letters of commitment to install wind power turbines and as a result 650 megawatts of wind power would be injected into the national grid by the end of 2007.

At a meeting with Acting President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Sheikh Muhammad Aslam and members of the FPCCI here in the Federation House, he said that the mid-term development plan of the AEDB included development of wind and solar energy to meet at least 5% of the total installed capacity, that is, 9,700MW by 2030.

The AEDB will facilitate the installation of a 700-MW wind energy project near Gharo, Sindh, by 2010. It will also facilitate the development of solar products such as solar lights, solar fans, solar cooker, solar geyser through the private sector, he added.

The AEDB chairman said that as a result of the analysis of three-year data of general area of Gharo-Keti Bandar provided by the Met office, the AEDB has identified the potential of 50,000MW wind power. He said that the Board was in liaison with the government of Sindh for identification and acquisition of land in the area and has so far acquired 18,000 acres.

Giving details of the pilot project for development and installation of micro- wind turbines, he said that 85 micro turbines had been installed in Mirpur Sakro, District Thatta, to provide electricity to 356 houses, 15 turbines have been installed in Kund Malir, District Lasbella, providing electricity to 111 homes, 40 turbines have been given to the government of Balochistan and one turbines is to be installed in AJK on trial basis.

Mr Hamid said that the AEDB is also exploiting solar energy and has executed a project to provide 100 solar homes in each province. The villages where the project has been executed include Allah Baksh, Bazar Dadar, District Kech, Balochistan; Bharo Mal, District Thar, Sindh; Janak, district Kohat, NWFP; and Lakhi Bher, district D G Khan, Punjab.

He said that Northern Areas has the potential for more than 300MW and the canal network in Punjab has the potential for more than 350MW through micro hydropower projects. A 40KW Kaplan-type micro hydel turbine has been indigenously manufactured which has been installed at Khanpur Dan canal near the village of Mohra Morado, Taxila, providing electricity to the village.

On the proposal of Tariq Sayeed, former president of the FPCCI, Mr Hamid promised to recommend to the prime minister to include a representative of the FPCCI on the AEDB. He also agreed to hold consultative meetings with FPCCI members every two months to interact with entrepreneurs.

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