ISLAMABAD: Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide $ 75 million loan to Triconboston Consulting Corporation (TBCC) to support development of the largest wind farm in Pakistan which has launched several initiatives to promote private sector participation in energy sector.
The total installed capacity of wind power projects in the country has been raised to 590.5 MW through different projects launched to meet energy needs.
The deal is ADB’s third wind energy investment in Pakistan’s burgeoning independent power producer segment. Power from the project will be sold under a 20 year take-or-pay energy purchase agreement under a feed-in tariff to Pakistan’s Central Power Purchasing Agency.
“This wind farm is a major contributor to Pakistan’s drive to scale up renewable energy use and to reduce its reliance on coal and petroleum for power generation,” said Muhammad Azim Hashimi, Investment Specialist in ADB’s Private Sector Operations Department.
“The operation of this farm will avoid the production of over350,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions a year and help to close the country’s power shortfall,” he said.
The project sponsors include Sapphire Textile Mills, a leading local energy developer, and Bank Alfalah, Pakistan’s sixthlargest bank by market share.
Chief Executive Officer of Sapphire Textile Mills, Nadeem Abdullah on Saturday said the company believes that renew ables have changed the energy paradigm and remains committed to development of renewable energy resources in Pakistan. The 150 MW Triconboston wind power project is a step in this direction, he said.
It merits mentioned here that six new wind power projectshave recently achieved Commercial Operation Date (COD), Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) data about projects revealed.
These projects included M/S Metro Power Company Limited 50 MW at Jhimpir, M/S Yunus Energy Limited 50 MW at Jhimpir, M/S Master Wind Energy Limited 52.8 MW at Jhimpir, M/S Tapal Wind EnergyLimited 30 MW at Jhimpir, M/s Tenaga Generasi Limited 59.5 MW at Gharo and M/S Gul Ahmed Wind Power Limited 50 MW at Jhimpir.
The data said the government has set a target of adding 1000Megawatts (MW) electricity to national grid by 2018 from wind corridor, as more investors are coming to invest in this mode ofenergy generation.
Wind corridor in district of Thatta has the potential to generate up to 50,000 MWs electricity which will be sufficient enough to meet country’s power demands for years.
Balochistan’s coastal areas also have huge potential for alternative green energy. The government is conducting surveys in this regard.
