9,700 MW power generation target been set: Raja Pervez

Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that Pakistan has set a target of approximately 9,700 MW of the electricity generation by year 2030 from renewable energies and the replacement of 10% diesel with bio diesel by year 2025. He was addressing the representatives of more than 120 countries in the second session of the preparatory commission of IRENA being held in resort city of Sharm ul Sheikh. The Minister for Water and Power, who is also the Chairman of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), has extended full support of Pakistan to the newly perceived International renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IRENA envisions coping with the increasing global energy demand, energy security, global warming, poverty alleviation and volatile energy prices. It has been created with unanimous agreement and signatures of 130 countries. The Minister also took part in the voting proceedings for the selections of the place for Headquarter of IRENA and the election of its Director General. A newly conceived, carbon neutral and modern city of UAE, Masdar is also one of the hotly contested places for the IRENA Headquarter. Boon in Germany and Vienna in Austria are also the cities in the run for future IRENA Headquarter. Pervez Ashraf highlighted the commitment of Pakistan in the area of renewable energy by addressing the session full of international delegates, professionals and technical experts. He said that renewable energy technologies would be an essential element in Pakistans energy future by making contribution to the diversity and security of energy supply of country and to its economic development, he emphasized.