Sindh gets first green hydrogen project

MoU signed for 400 MW plant; provincial govt assures support

KARACHI:

An agreement has been signed between for the first ever green hydrogen energy project in Pakistan. The MoU signing ceremony for the plant was held at the Energy Department in Karachi.

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh and Chinese Consul General Li Bijian both witnessed history in the making as the agreement was signed.

Oracle Power Public Ltd Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Naheed Memon and Power China International Pakistan Chief Representative Yang Jianduo inked the MoU for the joint development of the first green hydrogen project in Pakistan.

The agreement announced that the facility will produce approximately 150,000 kg per day of green hydrogen from a 400 MW capacity plant, using energy from wind and solar farms. This important development comes a few days before the all-important 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties.

The international event will confirm a global commitment to hydrogen economies. The initiation of this project also comes at a time when Pakistan and China have announced a plan to sign on a three-year investment cooperation pact for green projects.

More than 350 hydrogen projects are currently in development around the world. These seek to decarbonise economic sectors - such as heavy transportation, industry and even aviation. With the right policy and investment, hydrogen could satisfy as much as 24 per cent of global energy demand by 2050.

Currently, only four per cent of hydrogen produced is from green sources, but it is expected to grow by many multiples as the global decarbonisation drive is accelerated. Green hydrogen produced from this plant in Sindh will be exported initially and the sponsors aim to secure buyers in China and in the region.

More than 10 large market economies have already established hydrogen policies in place. On the occasion Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said this project places the province of Sindh in the lead for development of global future fuel. "It places Pakistan among the ranks of forward thinking nations."

He assured the sponsors of Sindh government's support. The abundant renewable resource in Sindh, two ports, and infrastructure make it an ideal location for this set up. "The government has led the way for the establishment of renewable energy and now has taken another step in moving to support frontier technology, sustainability and innovation."

The sponsors hope to secure global support for this important project.

This project also enables the use of Sindh's abundant renewable energy resource. Given the current low or absent demand for further power generation in Pakistan, it creates a much sought after captive usage of renewable energy.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2021.