Turkish plant to start generating 56MW in Dec’

[Salman]

Turkish plant to start generating 56MW in Dec’

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish wind power project of 56 megawatts (MW) will start generation from December 2012 in the Coastal area of Jhampir in Sindh.

This was told by three-member delegation of Zorlu Energy Group of Turkey lea by Ibrahim Sinnon Ak, which called on Federal Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar on Thursday.

Sionnon said that financial close for 56 MW wind project has been achieved and all other requirements have also been completed and construction on site has begun. Turkish investors are very satisfied with the investment-friendly environment in Pakistan and have decided to set up another wind project of 200 MW. The work in this regard has also been started. He appreciated the cooperation extended by the government of Pakistan, ministry and Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) for setting up of the wind farms in Pakistan to generate clean and cheaper energy. The delegation also asked the minister for provision of land in the wind corridor in coastal area of Sindh for their 200 MW wind project.

Qamar appreciated the Turkish investment in the alternative energy projects and said that it will attract more investors in this sector. He said that the government has planned to generate 1,500 MW on fast track basis from wind energy and upfront tariff has been announced in this regard to facilitate the investors. He assured the delegation that land for 200 MW wind project will be provided to the company on lease at the earliest and directed the AEDB chief executive officer to take up the matter with the government of Sindh for early allotment. The minister also said the government will facilitate the Zorlu and other Turkish investors and asked to make more investment in this sector. He said that Pakistan is an energy-starved country and the government is taking all possible steps to overcome the energy shortages. He said that the government is focusing on cheaper energy generation in future, which is only possible through alternative and indigenous resources like wind, solar, coal and hydel