Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif witnessing the MoU signing between Punjab Government and consortium of companies from Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. PHOTO: APP
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding solar development project was signed between Punjab government and an international consortium of five countries including Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Pakistan at Chief Minister Office on Wednesday.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Energy Minister Sher Ali Khan, Secretary Energy and senior officials of concerned departments were present.
Secretary Energy Usman Bajwa and chief executive of the Swiss Company STCS AG and group chairman of the consortium, Rainer Kertess, signed the document on behalf of Punjab government and the international consortium respectively.
Under the agreement, the international consortium will set up a plant for assembling and manufacturing solar panels, solar cells and batteries in Faisalabad.
The consortium will also consider the project of setting up 400 solar power projects each near industrial zones in Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Lahore while a 150-megawatt power plant will be set up along the motorway from Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad.
The consortium will also introduce solar pumps for agriculture sector in Punjab besides street lights in big cities of the province as well as those installed at Ring Road will be gradually converted to solar power.
The consortium will also consider introduction and implementation of zero energy building system for large buildings besides evolving a project of supply of off-grid energy to industrial zones.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that measures would be taken for the early implementation of the agreement in a transparent manner. He said that Punjab government will provide all-out facilities to the international consortium.
“Nothing could be more important than solution of energy crisis,” he said, adding Punjab government is encouraging foreign investment in the energy sector.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2013.
COMMENTS (10)
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Being a Electrical Engineer I have seen nothing is on ground foreign investor only sign MOU but no execution on ground this is Ground reality, I have send personally request to Honorable Chief Minister identify the land where would we execute solar plant. We shall started 15MW up to 60MW from our own Pakistani and Pakistani Americans funding to started within month.
Technical,Solar farm should be 10KM or nearest from 132KV grid, IF THE GOP provides land nearest the grid the investment of Solar park will be more feasible otherwise transmission or grid looses will be increasing the cost and reduce efficiency.
@Alann the wierdness...You wanted to highlight is "FIVE COUNTRIES" which also incl Pakistan...:)
Actually there is a more important crisis that will hit Pakistan within next 5-10 years. And that is water shortage. This will make power shortage look like a walk in the park.
Rather than bashing all the time please learn to appreciate an effort they are making to solve energy issues. Yes, it is just a start but lot better than a no-start at all.
All this shows is good intent...........and does not cost a thing. An MOU is not worth the paper its written on unless it progresses to the next level and beyond.
It took me a minute but I have noticed the contradictions in the sentence - an agreement between five countries but Punjab is not a country. Good point. What they should be saying is that it is an agreement between the European countries and the government of Punjab.
Good step forward. It's need of the hours so waiting so long?
@Alann, Did you pass comprehension test for graduation?
"A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding solar development project was signed between Punjab government and an international consortium of five countries including Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Pakistan at Chief Minister Office on Wednesday."
Anyone notice the weirdness in that line?