Pakistan, Germany to launch renewable energy forum

Berlin to help promote efficient consumption of energy

ISLAMABAD: German Ambassador Ina Lepel has said that a renewable energy forum will be launched in collaboration with Pakistan in a bid to bring together and connect stakeholders from public and private sectors of the two countries.

Speaking at the 5th International Exhibition and Conference on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on Saturday, Lepel said the German Development Cooperation - an agency that cooperates in sustainable development - had been engaged in renewable energy and energy efficiency programmes since 1962, the year development partnership began between Pakistan and Germany.



“Our objective is to support sustainable electricity supply in Pakistan and to help improve efficient use of energy,” she added.

The ambassador said besides financial and technical cooperation in the area of energy ranging from construction of hydroelectric power plants to supporting reforms and policy formulation, the goal was to leverage the business potential in renewable energy that existed in both countries.

She was of the view that Pakistan had a big potential for sustainable economic and social development due to its geographical realities as a trade corridor, its agricultural and human resources and the prospect of a competitive exporter of goods in high demand within the region and beyond.

Pakistan’s potential in terms of renewable energy was even bigger than Germany as the former had more wind corridors, more solar power resources and also exceptional opportunities for hydroelectric power production, she said.

Lepel saw ample possibilities of engaging in business activities that would create employment and income opportunities and contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.



She stressed that development partners could play a pivotal role, especially by providing expertise and specific technologies, in order to give a boost to the renewable energy sector.

Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) Chief Executive Officer Amjad Ali Awan said Pakistan’s renewable energy sector had received encouraging response from the international market and mapping of solar and wind resources was in progress while biomass mapping had been completed.

He pointed out that efforts were being made to enhance the share of renewable energy up to 35% in the total energy mix in order to ensure energy security. Pakistan could generate over 40,000 megawatts of clean energy only through the Keti Bandar wind corridor and the same area could also produce solar energy, he said.

The AEDB has set a production target of over 3,000MW of electricity with the help of renewable energy resources.

Air University Dean Dr Zafarullah Koreshi, while underlining the need of promoting renewable energy, said over 40,000-50,000MW of electricity could be generated from hydel resources.

Renewable Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan Vice Chairman Asif said renewable energy was the only solution to the power outages.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2016.

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