Secretary Energy reveals: 300 Megawatt Solar Power Plant Project in the pipeline
The provincial government is doing its best to overcome the prevailing energy crisis through certain solar power projects in the province with some of them implemented under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
Recently a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Government of Balochistan and a Korean investment company namely CK Solar Korea for installation of 300 Megawatt Solar Power Plant near Quetta.
The project cost would be approximately US$ 900 million.
This and similar details were shared by the Provincial Secretary, Energy, Government of Balochistan, Hashim Fawad Rabbani while talking to the media persons here the other day.
The Solar Power Plant would be installed near Kuchlak, for 1,500 acres of land has already been leased out by the provincial government.
The Secretary informed that once the necessary formalities of the Project are completed after signing of the MoU, the Solar Power Plant project would at least take two years to complete. This means the project would be completed by end 2015 or start of year 2016 positively, he maintained.
Referring the benefits of the project, the spirited Rabbani told that the Solar Power project would help augment the shortfall of electricity in the province. The underprivileged populace of the province would be greatly benefited through provision of green energy / electricity, especially in the areas where there is no conventional electricity option. For instance, currently, the local population of the targeted areas are using kerosene lanterns, which is health hazardous and non-economical due to intermittent price hike, the clean energy alternative would be extremely beneficial, he maintained.
As far other benefits of the project, an optimistic Secretary Energy said that the provision of electricity would connect the rural population with rest of the world through television / media, etc.
Similarly, electrification of medical facilities such as hospitals, Basic Health Units and installation of solar street lights etc. are amongst major benefits of the project, he said adding that the project would result in increased income generation and better living standard.
About the security of the project, he said that of course, foolproof security would be ensured for the project.
In addition to that, Hashim Rabbani, on the occasion, also shared with the media persons about the projects to be launched in the energy sector in future.
He said that we have a plan to replace some 800 electric driven subsidized agriculture tube wells into solar.
If the agriculture tube wells were converted into the solar system, then it would not only save the abundant electricity in the power-starved province but it would also save the extra financial burden which otherwise the provincial government is to bear on the subsidized agriculture tube wells, he said.
Mr. Rabbani mentioned that officially there are 15,660 agriculture tube wells on which the subsidy being offered in the province.
Moreover, the government has also planned installation of 20 solar water pumps in 10 districts of the province for water supply schemes of the Public Health Engineering department (PHED).
Referring other projects in the power sector in Balochistan, the Secretary Energy department said that work on two important projects including 220 KV Dadu-Khuzdar and Loralai-Dera Ghazi Khan transmission lines is being expedited so as to yield good results to overcome power crisis in the province.
He said that another project of 100 MW transmission line from Iran would also be implemented.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/asianet/130406/secretary-energy-reveals-300-megawatt-solar-power-plant-project-the-pip
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