Work On 2nd Phase Of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Plant To Be Start Soon: Minister

Provincial Minister for Energy Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik has once again reiterated Punjab government's resolve to promote reliance on affordable and renewable energy sources in the province.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2018 ) :Provincial Minister for Energy Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik has once again reiterated Punjab government's resolve to promote reliance on affordable and renewable energy sources in the province.

Plans were under way to start work on the 2nd phase of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, which will add 300 megawatts of renewable energy to the national grid.

The plan was discussed in a meeting between Energy Minister Dr Akhtar Malik and a team of Zonergy China Comoany Ltd, headed by company's chief executive officer (CEO).

The minister was briefed by Zonergy company delegation about the successful plugging in of the first 300-MW of solar energy in the national grid.

The Construction work on the project was launched in 2015 and it was completed in a record time of eight months, the minister was told.

The project created more than 3,500 jobs in the area and about 35 per cent of the work force on the site had been recruited from pool of local professionals. It was mentioned that the project had been able to produce an average of 7 per cent additional units over and above its installed capacity.

The minister for energy said that Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park had to produce 900-MW of clean and affordable energy, but only one third of it could be produced due to lack of interest of the previous regime in the project.

The minister said that the provincial government would cooperate with Zonergy China in every way possible so that the faith of foreign investors could be restored. Details for the 2nd phase would be finalised in a week, he said.