Pakistan to develop alternate sources of Energy
04 March, 2006
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan`s Federal Government has placed Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) under Ministry of Water and Power previous as it worked with Prime Minister Secretariat since its establishment.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Wednesday chaired first meeting of AED after the Board was brought under the ministry instead of the PM secretariat.
The government, Jatoi said, would take initiatives to develop alternate sources of energy to meet the growing demand of power in the country in addition to conventional methods to produce cheaper energy in the country.
He stressed need to remove all bottlenecks to attract the foreign investors to enable them make investment in power sector as he directed all stakeholders to come forward with concerted and coordinated efforts to yield positive results and to implement directives of president and prime minister to provide cheap electricity to villages on top priority basis.
Jatoi also inaugurated the grid station here at Bara Kahu and announced to provide electricity to the remote villages in accordance with the targets of the government till 2007.
Secretary Water and Power Ishfaq Mehmood, Advisor to Ministry of Water and Power Riaz Ahmed Khan and Member Water Anwar Khalid were also present during the inauguration ceremony.
The Minister informed the participants that 13000 villages would be provided electricity by the next year under the directives of the Prime Minister.
Member power told the participants that the WAPDA line losses have reduced from previous year’s 22.5 per cent to present year’s 21.4 per cent. “Almost all village within the range of 20 kilometer of grid stations will be provided electricity by 2007 end.”
In a detailed presentation, the Chairman, AEDB, Air marshal (r) Shahid Hamid informed the meeting about the organizational structure, functions and present status of various initiatives of the Board. He also apprised the meeting about the progress including identification of Wind sites, pre-feasibility studies made so far by the AEDB.
He also informed the meeting about the identification and acquisition of land for the 100 MW wind generating project in Gharoof Province of Sindh.
He informed the meeting that under the directives of PM AEDB has prepared comprehensive time bound plan to electrify 7874 remote villages in Baluchistan (6968) and Sindh (906) province, located outside the 20 km radius of National Grid System through Renewable Energy Resources.
Jatoi appreciated the efforts made so far by the AEDB and assured the board his full support in this regard.
The meeting was attended by Secretary, M/o Water and Power, Advisor, M/o Water and Power, Member (Power), WAPDA, MD PPIB, and senior officers of Ministry, NTDC and WAPDA.
Courtesy www.pakistantimes.net End.
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