Wind Energy

Wind energy in Pakistan: 50 MW wind power project set up in Thatta

Pakistan can significantly reduce its oil import bill by shifting to renewable energy and meet its rising industrial and domestic energy demands without burning fossil fuels in thermal power plants, the most expensive form of fuel.

With the ground breaking of country’s first 50MW Wind Power Project, a significant milestone in country’s history, Pakistan has taken first step in wind energy to bridge the current energy shortfall, which is adversely affecting the national economy.

These views were expressed by Chief Executive and Managing Director of Fauji Fertiliser Company, Lt General (R) Malik Arif Hayat, while addressing the ground breaking ceremony of country’s first 50MW Wind Power Project by FFC Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Fauji Fertiliser Company, at Jhampir, District Thatta on Friday.

The wind farm is nearly 60 per cent complete and will start its trial production in June 2012 which would be provided free of cost till the start of commercial operations in November 2012.

He said Pakistan is currently meeting 70 per cent of its power need by burning fossil fuels, despite the fact that soaring oil prices in the last few years have made it very difficult to economically generate power with current energy mix and consequently sustain economic growth.

Renewable energy sources like wind turbines, solar power, hydel and biomass are indigenous, abundant and green by their very nature. Moreover, project development time for wind and solar power projects is significantly lesser than coal or large hydel power projects, he added.

FFC’s investment in the ongoing wind farm of 50 megawatt is $135m. However company has committed to put up more wind farms with total capacity of 250 megawatts.

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