Korea to install 1000 MW solar power plant in Balochistan

The Korean Solar Energy Company would build 1000 megawatt (MW) solar energy electricity plant in Balochistan to overcome the shortfall of about 900 MW currently faced by the people of the province.

“ The Korean government has agreed to invest in the power sector of Balochistan as they have signed memorandum of understanding for building 300 MW power plant with provincial government and in order to start work on remaining 700 MW projects, technicalities is being thoroughly examined, said Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Balochistan Aslam Shakir Baloch here on Wednesday.

Land has been earmarked for the power project and it would take three years to complete the project aimed at to overcome the power shortfall in Balochistan. “ Provincial government is well cognizant of the power issue”, Shakir said and added that we are moving ahead on Rs 888 million Solar Energy Home Project under which around 300 villages in parts of the province would be electrified.

He recalled that in view of the long coastal area bestowed by Allah to Balochistan, work on the power generating alternatives such as solar, wind and geo-thermal energy are also in progress. “ The Balochistan Energy Company has also been set up to meet the challenges of power sector”, he said adding solar energy project on completion would add Rs 5 billion annually in the provincial exchequer helping to overcome the financial constraints.

Additional CS noted that government was working on a line to convert agri-tube-wells to solar-energy run as under the federal government directives Balochistan government have to give subsidy to about 15600 tube wells in agriculture sector. He said province has about 900 MW shortfall of electricity at present. With the implementation of solar energy project shortage would be completely overcome.

“ All government buildings including Governor House, Chief Minister Secretariat and Civil Secretariat, as a part of power interventions would be linked to solar energy system,” he maintained.

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