Pakistan, Denmark to enhance energy cooperation

Technical working group formed to frame ToRs for G2G agreements

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Denmark on Monday formed a joint technical working group to frame terms of reference (ToRs) for government-to-government agreements in the field of energy.

The working group was set up during a virtual meeting, co-chaired by Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan and Danish Ambassador to Pakistan Lis Rosenholm.

A Danish team, comprising technical experts in the energy sector, presented a report and briefed the meeting on ways and means of increased cooperation in the renewable energy sector of Pakistan.

The two sides deliberated on the findings and recommendations of the Danish energy team for G2G (government-to-government) collaboration between Denmark and Pakistan in the energy sector, keeping in view the latter’s newly approved alternative energy policy.

The Danish team presented the report on technical support to Pakistan in renewable energy and energy efficiency, underlining the need for strategic energy cooperation between the two countries.

Acknowledging the role of Denmark in clean and green energy at the global level, Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan said that Pakistan too embarked on the drive to tap its huge renewable energy potential. He said that Pakistan’s new renewable energy policy would bring opportunities to investors due to transparent policies introduced by the government.

Khan said that the government had set ambitious targets to take the share of renewable energy to 25% by 2025 and to 30% by the end of 2030, including 45% share of hydel power generation and 10% of nuclear energy in the energy mix.

The minister stressed that the government required a strong political commitment, innovative ways of expanding access to energy, promoting renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency to meet the country’s growing energy needs.

He underlined the need for launching joint projects like manufacturing of wind turbines and solar panels, reducing energy wastage and enhancing transmission capacity.

The minister formed a “joint technical working group to develop ToRs for G2G agreements focusing on energy audit and demand forecast in the country”.

Appreciating Pakistan’s commitment to refurbishing the energy sector, the envoy said that the new renewable energy policy was more transparent as it provided a level playing field. She said G2G agreements would be based on equal partnership with prime focus on setting up a joint energy group for sharing experiences at both policy and operational levels, so that the two countries could establish long-term strategic partnership in the energy sector.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2021.

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