5,000 Schools, 200 Villages To Be Energised Through Solar Power In Sindh: Imtiaz Shaikh

Sindh Minister for Alternative Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has said 200 villages and 5,000 schools in rural areas of the province would be energized through solar power.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Sep, 2018 ) :Sindh Minister for Alternative Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh has said 200 villages and 5,000 schools in rural areas of the province would be energized through solar power.

The minister, at an introductory meeting of his department here on Monday, directed the officials concerned to take immediate and practicable steps to implement this plan envisaged on the directive of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to supply electricity in rural areas of the province.

The minister said Sindh province has numerous resources for generating renewable energy, which may cater to the power needs of the country through generation of thousands of megawatt cost-effective electricity.

Imtiaz Shaikh said provinces require Federal government's permission over some aspects of alternative energy resources, therefore, he added, the Sindh government would take up such matters at the next meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) so that work could be started on pending renewable energy projects.

He said alternative energy policy after making it more effective to be presented in the CCI meeting for seeking five-year extension in the policy.

The minister said Thatta district has a vast place suitable for generating wind energy, and for this purpose 17 companies have expressed their interest. However, he added, work on such wind power projects could not be initiated due to lack of clarity about tariff.

Imtiaz Shaikh said electric inspectors would be re-activated to address the complaints of over billing from consumers against power companies.

Secretary Energy Department Rashid Hussain Qazi, briefing the minister about the performance of the department, said the projects of power generation through garbage are under consideration for Karachi and other cities of the province. For this purpose, he said talks are under way with the Sindh Solid Waste Management board. He expressed the hope that these projects would be finalised soon.

The minister said as a pilot projects bio-gas plants are being installed in Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Karachi's Malir district at the cost of Rs. 20 million so that bio-gas could be produced through dung to cater to the needs of domestic consumers.

On the occasion, Director Alternative Energy Engineer Mehfooz Qazi told the meeting an alternative energy training institute and wind energy testing laboratory would be set up in Karachi in collaboration with a Japanese donor agency.

He informed that a consultative meeting would be held at a local hotel here on October 13 in collaboration with World Bank to promote alternative energy. He said local and foreign experts and stakeholders would participate in the moot.

Besides, he said a two-day International Energy Conference and Exhibition 2018 would be held in Karachi on November 28. Over 50 international experts and representatives of energy companies are expected to attend the conference. The event would also envisage the exhibition of solar and wind energy equipment.