The future of wind energy in the Sindh province received a major boost today, as leading representatives from the Government of Sindh and Vestas Wind Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on wind power development in the region.
A delegation of senior Vestas officials travelled to Pakistan to sign the MoU with high ranking representatives from the Government of Sindh. The signing ceremony took place at the Chief Minister’s House in Karachi and was attended by Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and Jesper Moller Sorensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan.
Vestas, a Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer internationally recognised as the global leader in wind energy, has been a first mover in Pakistan, having supplied turbines to one of the first commercial wind farms now in operation. In 2014, a Vestas delegation met with the Government of Sindh during a week-long visit to Pakistan facilitated by the Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan. Speaking at the event today, Gerard Carew, Vestas’ Vice President of Sales in Asia Pacific, explained that Pakistan is an emerging wind energy market where the company is ready to grow its presence:
“This MOU signing follows our initial meetings with the Government of Sindh in 2014 and subsequent discussions that have now cemented our shared ambition to have wind energy play a major role in overcoming the energy crisis in Pakistan. The Sindh province is blessed with excellent wind resources, and Vestas has the experience, knowledge, and products & services to deliver highly productive and reliable wind power plants in the region. We are delighted to be working with the Government of Sindh to assist in the development of wind power in the region.”
The Embassy of Denmark in Islamabad has supported Vestas in implementing its market growth plan, following on from two conferences on wind energy in Pakistan it helped arrange in 2014. Also at the ceremony, Jesper Moller Sorensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan, commented:
“Pakistan has a huge potential for wind energy, and Denmark is a market leader, when it comes to technology for production of energy from wind. In 2014, 40 percent of all electricity in Denmark was generated by wind power. Denmark’s success story, technology and experience can play an important role in the further expansion of wind in Sindh. I am happy to witness that active steps are being taken to bring environmentally sustainable solutions to bridge the energy gap in Pakistan. I am confident that Vestas’ technical expertise and experience in realizing large scale wind farms could be a great contribution to the development of the Pakistani energy sector.”
Under the MOU, Vestas will provide wind & site engineering and associated technical services to the Government of Sindh as it undertakes project development activities for an initial 100 MW wind farm with future potential to expand up to 300 MW. Through its network and interactions with renewable energy investors and financial institutions, Vestas will also help to facilitate project equity and debt financing for the project with assistance from the Embassy of Denmark.
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh said that the province has a huge potential for wind energy to contribute in the national grid. Pakistan’s energy crisis can be overcome by exploiting wind energy resource. Government of Sindh has taken concrete steps to facilitate local and foreign investors to invest in the wind energy resource of the province.
