New renewable energy policy to help reduce carbon footprints

It will increase share of renewable energy to 30% by 2030


Our Correspondent March 14, 2019
Power-generating windmill turbines are seen at sunset. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s new renewable energy policy will help reduce carbon footprints drastically by increasing its share to 30% from the existing 4% by year 2030, said Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan.

In meeting with European Union Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain on Wednesday, he said the government plans to increase the share of renewable energy to 30% till year 2030. He added that the share of hydel component in the energy mix is also near 30%, which means that by year 2030 more than 60% of the country’s electricity will be from clean and green resources.

Khan informed the ambassador that Pakistan seeks to slash its carbon footprints with these measures. The government is planning a seminar on energy conservation in April, in which it aims to promote clean and green energy. While on the other side, it will focus on energy conservation to help further reduce carbon emissions.

Pakistan’s per capita energy consumption pattern indicates high demand in the near future, which offers huge investment opportunities in power generation, transmission and distribution sector with competitive return on investment.

The power minister said Pakistan’s per capita energy consumption is around 500 kilowatts (KW), almost 700KW less than the region, while 2,400KW less than China and more than 7,000KW less than developed countries. This shows that the demand will grow exponentially not only of the existing consumers, due to better economic growth, but also due to the economy’s take off, he remarked.

Appreciating the efforts of the government, the EU ambassador said investors in EU are closely following Pakistan’s energy markets. He said the EU is organising renewable energy workshop in May for Pakistan. He further lauded the government’s measures to reduce carbon footprints.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2019.

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