EU interested in financing Munda Dam
Also considering setting up small hydropower plants.
ISLAMABAD:
The European Union has expressed interest in financing Munda Dam and establishing small hydropower projects in an effort to help resolve the energy crisis and contribute to development of far-flung areas.
Head of EU Delegation to Pakistan Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Weigmark stated this during a meeting with Federal Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar here on Thursday.
Weigmark said the EU was keen to invest in Pakistan’s power sector to help resolve the energy crisis.
Briefing the minister about EU’s country programme for Pakistan, he said rural development, good governance and better use of water were their priority areas under the programme. The EU has planned to establish community-based hydropower projects in 1,000 union councils of Malakand and small hydropower plants in northern areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Thirty million euros have been allocated for hydropower plants in northern areas.
The EU has also granted 70 million euros for rehabilitating and upgrading two power plants in Multan and Faisalabad.
For Balochistan, the EU has designed a programme for installing solar pumps. Some of the European countries are already funding water, power and energy conservation projects individually or in collaboration with donors in Pakistan.
Naveed Qamar said the energy sector of Pakistan was very huge and had a big potential for investment. “The government is working on various small and mega projects to generate electricity for meeting future needs. We are focusing on hydropower and indigenous resources for cheaper electricity,” he said.
Qamar said work on the proposal for establishing small hydropower projects in northern areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would be expedited. He asked the delegation to also consider investing in biofuel, anti-flood and alternative energy projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.
The European Union has expressed interest in financing Munda Dam and establishing small hydropower projects in an effort to help resolve the energy crisis and contribute to development of far-flung areas.
Head of EU Delegation to Pakistan Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Weigmark stated this during a meeting with Federal Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar here on Thursday.
Weigmark said the EU was keen to invest in Pakistan’s power sector to help resolve the energy crisis.
Briefing the minister about EU’s country programme for Pakistan, he said rural development, good governance and better use of water were their priority areas under the programme. The EU has planned to establish community-based hydropower projects in 1,000 union councils of Malakand and small hydropower plants in northern areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Thirty million euros have been allocated for hydropower plants in northern areas.
The EU has also granted 70 million euros for rehabilitating and upgrading two power plants in Multan and Faisalabad.
For Balochistan, the EU has designed a programme for installing solar pumps. Some of the European countries are already funding water, power and energy conservation projects individually or in collaboration with donors in Pakistan.
Naveed Qamar said the energy sector of Pakistan was very huge and had a big potential for investment. “The government is working on various small and mega projects to generate electricity for meeting future needs. We are focusing on hydropower and indigenous resources for cheaper electricity,” he said.
Qamar said work on the proposal for establishing small hydropower projects in northern areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would be expedited. He asked the delegation to also consider investing in biofuel, anti-flood and alternative energy projects.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2012.