Fozia Azam

Three solar power generation projects with a capacity of 150 megawatts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are awaiting final approval from the Ministry of Energy, according to an official document. These three solar energy projects worth $120 million have been issued with National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) tariff and generation licence, and would be established at a distance of three kilometres from a planned industrial zone under China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to the document, a copy of which is available with WealthPK, it has been proposed that 3.7 cents per unit will be charged under the said projects to provide cheap and uninterrupted electricity to the remote areas of KP. Despite completing all procedural requirements, the final approval is being sought by the investor companies to commence the projects.

The document shows the projects under development in KP are situated in the area adjoining the newly merged tribal districts of KP and sub-divisions Bannu and Lakki Marwat. In an official communique to the Power Division of the federal government, the KP provincial government stated that under the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, these projects were placed under the category-III under which they shall be put to international competitive bidding under the 2019 Policy.

The communique suggested that these projects should not be considered routine renewable energy generation projects, but should be given preference and processed under the RE Policy 2006 so that the benefit of these projects could be transferred to the people.

Mustafa Abdullah, solar and wind energy project developer and Chief Executive Officer of Moro Power Company Pvt Ltd, told WealthPK that all development activities are directly linked with uninterrupted provision of affordable electricity. He said renewable energy investment in the remote areas should get priority. “Once these projects get approval, it will boost confidence of the investors and would further attract new investments in the field of alternative renewable energy in these remote areas,” he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk