KARACHI:
The current government is aggressively pursuing the installation of new solar power projects across the country. It claims that solar power projects can potentially resolve the load-shedding issue in Pakistan. However, the government has largely ignored the misadventure of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, which was established during Shehbaz Sharif’s tenure as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
The park was designed to be 1,000 megawatts (MW) but only 100 MW were built when it was discovered that NEPRA had agreed to the high rate of 19.7Rs per unit buyback. Once the project was completed and operational, many issues were encountered. For instance, 100 MW were only producing 12 MW of electricity, which shows that solar power is inefficient. The government is once again forcing solar power projects on the nation, but they have not informed the people about the rate NEPRA has agreed to buy back the electricity. Is the rate the same or much higher?
Government ministries have also failed to highlight that more than 10,000 MW hydropower projects are in the works. How will NEPRA include the under-construction hydro and solar power projects in the country’s energy production plans? Hydro projects produce the cheapest and cleanest energy and Pakistan has the capacity to produce 55,000 MW from hydropower. But governments have constantly ignored the benefits of hydropower and instead come up with their own expensive solutions that do not solve the problem and raise energy costs for everyone. The government must reconsider its solar projects and be more transparent about upcoming projects to keep the public informed.
Shahryar Khan Baseer
Peshawar
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2023.
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