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Summary
Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday said that indigenous resources were being exploited to generate cheaper electricity besides giving due attention to Renewable Energy (RE) to meet the future power requirements of the country. Talking to the media persons here after presiding over the 20th meeting of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) governing Board, the Minister said that the government was already giving priority to the power sector and comprehensive medium and long term plans have been formulated to generate power through wind, coal, solar, and hydel resources.He informed that the AEDB Board reviewed the progress on a various wind farm projects and took decision to accelerate the pace of development in wind sector.Pervez Ashraf said that a number of Letter of Intents (LoIs) were issued by the previous government, but most of the LoI holders did not start their projects as per their commitment. Such people have wasted precious time of the nation, he added.He said that the Board has decided to strictly monitor the progress of wind projects to whom land has been allotted.Moreover, it has been decided by the Board that the LoI of the companies which have not made any progress shall be canceled.The minister said it has also been decided that initially water heating system, garden lights and some components of the internal lights of the President and Prime Minister Houses would be replaced with solar system as a role model to encourage the RE plan. The minister said that Solar Water Heaters were being deployed in the country with the support of World Bank to save gas which would be used to generate electricity. Likewise, he added, tube wells in rural areas were also being replaced with RE supported. Water pumps, parks and street lights would also be gradually converted on solar, he added. The Minster appreciated AEDB for its successes in wind sector.He informed that wind projects of 200MW capacity would be launched shortly. He said these green technologies are costly initially but prove very inexpensive in the long run. He also informed that AEDB with the support of USAID would soon launch a 50MW project, and for this purpose a Special Purpose Vehicle comprising representatives from six divisions including, Water & Power, Finance, Planning and Environment would be established. This special SPV under AEDB would also undertake other similar RE projects in the country. A wind project offered by CMEC of China would also be undertaken by AEDB after necessary spade work.He said that the federal government has been working in close cooperation of the provincial governments. With the passage of the AEDB Act, now the provinces are taken on board; they have been given representation on AEDB Board and hence are now involved in decision making on RE technologies.The minister said that AEDB would facilitate provinces for development of RE projects, and provide all kind of technical assistance to provinces to set their own RE projects. The meeting was also attended by Shahid Rafi, Secretary Ministry of Water and Power, and senior officials from Finance, Planning, Environment, Science & Technology Divisions and provinces.
