PM seeks early transition to solar energy

THREE POWER PROJECTS UNDER PLAN TO TAP RENEWABLE ENERGY

The federal cabinet has recently approved the framework for generating electricity from solar energy panels instead of expensive fuel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yesterday directed the authorities to accelerate the transition to renewable energy to address the energy crisis and to cut the country’s huge import bill.

The PM urged the relevant department to take urgent measures and complete the solar system installation at the government buildings before the beginning of the summer season next year.

“Maximum government buildings in the country should be converted to solar before the start of the summer season,” he said. The process of transition to solar energy would be initiated with the federal government buildings in Islamabad and later extended across the country, the PM said.

The conversion to solar energy “will significantly reduce the electricity bills of government institutions” he said. Pakistan’s federal cabinet has recently approved the framework for generating electricity from solar energy instead of expensive fuel.

Three projects under consideration for generating electricity from solar energy include a 1200MW project in Layyah and a 600MW project in Muzaffargarh and Trimmu.

Energy conservation

In September this year, the Pakistan government approved 2000 megawatts of solar power projects under the National Solar Energy Initiative in the public sector to speed up the transition toward renewable energy technologies. In the first phase, solar energy would be supplied to government buildings, tube wells operating on electricity and diesel, and domestic consumers with low consumption.

This week, Pakistan also announced several austerity measures, including plans to shut down markets and shopping centres early and work from home for government employees, to save energy costs amid the economic crisis.

Support and incentives

Meanwhile, solar energy experts and stakeholders in Pakistan have asked the government to increase support and incentives such as tax reductions and subsidies to promote the local production of the solar energy system.

Entrepreneurs and industrialists demanded the government should “promote and incentivise local manufacturing of solar panels and allied equipment” in the new policy on solar panels.

The experts said that the local producers are facing heavy taxes on components and raw materials making their products more costly and less attractive, and unaffordable to customers.

Asmat Khan, director of Karachi-based Paksolar Renewable Energy company, told Gulf News that there is growing awareness of solar energy among Pakistanis but the high costs of initial investment often discourage people.