Hydel projects: Germany provides over €200 million

Additional €48.5m will be granted for alternate energy.

KARACHI:

Germany has provided over €200 million for the construction of various small and medium size hydel projects and installation and rehabilitation of transmission lines in Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa (K-P) during 2009-10.

“We will provide another €48.5 million for the development of alternative energy and energy efficiency during 2011-12,” said Desk Officer for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, Torge Matthiesen, according to a press statement received here from Berlin on Friday.

Matthiesen said this while addressing members of visiting Pakistani delegation comprising officials of the Ministry of Water and Power and Finance and private sector people in renewable energy.

He said that out of this amount, about €100 million are for small and medium size hydel projects in K-P including Lavi, Trapphi, Basho, Harpo and Kayal Khawar, while the rest is for laying transmission lines including Gakkhar and Gazi Road.

He said that during 2009, five districts were selected in K-P for the promotion of off-grid projects including solar, wind, hydro power and biomass to provide electricity to the locals. Germany wants to promote renewable energy and encouraging energy efficiency in Pakistan, he added.

He said that €12.5 million will be spent on off-grid renewable projects in next two years to meet the energy requirements of locals. Responding to a query, he said that Germany has so far provided an amount to €2.3 billion to Pakistan for development projects since 1961.









Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2011.