Govt to electrify 7,000 villages through solar energy

[LahoreEstate]

Thursday, July 02, 2009
By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf has said that the government has set a target to electrify 7,000 villages in the next five years through solar energy, which cannot be electrified through grid.

He was addressing the representatives of more than 120 countries in the second session of the preparatory commission of IRENA held in the remote city of Sharm-al-Sheikh, stated a message received from Cairo here.

The minister said that Pakistan is facing the same issues in developing and utilising its renewable resources as many other countries in a similar situation. “It is, therefore, important for us to identify and address the barriers to developing renewable energy.”

“We feel that the key barriers are availability of state-of-the-art technology, skills and knowledge and the necessary financial mechanism for the promotion of technology at all levels.”

“We also need to develop a global financial mechanism that responds to the special requirements of the renewable energy sector.” Pakistan feels that if a level-playing field is provided to the renewable energy sector, they are the least expensive, environment friendly and the most sustainable resources of energy.

He said that Pakistan has also set high targets for itself including renewable energies to add five per cent (approximately 10,000 MW) of electricity generation to the grid by the year 2030 and the replacement of 5pc diesel with bio-diesel by the year 2015 and 10pc by 2025.

The minister extended full support of Pakistan to the newly perceived International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). He also took part in the voting proceedings for the selections of the place for the Headquarters of IRENA and the election of its Director General.

A newly conceived, carbon neutral and modern city of UAE, ‘Masdar’ is also one of the hotly contested places for IRENA headquarters.

Ashraf highlighted the commitment of Pakistan in the area of renewable energy by addressing the auditorium full of international delegates, professionals and technical experts.

He emphasised that renewable energy technologies would be an essential element in Pakistan’s energy future by making contributions to the diversity and security of the energy supply of our country and to its economic development.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186105