Wind Energy

Sindh can generate over 50,000 MW from wind energy

Sindh is blessed with enormous wind energy resources which, if tapped, could generate more than 50,000 MW, said Sindh Board of Investment (SBI) Chairman Muhammad Zubair Motiwala while chairing a meeting at the SBI office.

Motiwala said the Gharo-Jhimpir wind corridor is 180km long and 60km wide, with average wind speed of 7-8 metres/sec.

He said that the provincial government has taken strict measures to take advantage of this opportunity and has so far approved 26 wind projects which would be commissioned within the next year and generate over 1000 MW of energy.

He also said that Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah recently approved the allotment of 347,434 acres for nine fast track wind power projects and the Revenue Department has also granted 30 years’ land lease to all fast track wind power projects through investment under the Renewable Energy Policy-2006.

Motiwala said that efficient solution to energy crisis can only be achieved by encouraging investment in renewable energy projects. He said that the nine fast track projects have submitted non-refundable guarantees under the new policy envisaging commissioning of commercial operations by March 31, 2013.

He also said that under these projects, 297.4MW of electricity could be generated from the wind power corridor of Thatta and Jamshoro districts. He further said that the provincial government is simultaneously pursuing a few other companies for fast track projects, including the Norwegian company M/s NBT for generation of 500MW of energy. Under these commitments, a total of 797.4MW could be generated by the end of March 2013, he added.

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