ISLAMABAD, 14 FEB (DNA) – Dr. Engineer Munawar Iqbal, Director General of Hydropower at the Private Power Infrastructure Board, emphasized the necessity of tapping into Pakistan hydropower potential to introduce eco-friendly electricity into the national grid for sustainable economic growth.
Pakistan boasts abundant resources for producing hydel and renewable energy (RE). Encouraging private sector investment in partnership with the government is crucial. The Private Power Infrastructure Board is particularly focused on promoting power generation from local resources, specifically hydel, wind, and solar energy.
These sentiments were shared during a recent meeting at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Acting President ICCI Engineer Azhar Islam.
Iqbal urged Pakistani investors to seize the vast opportunities available in the clean and green energy sector. With significant potential in Pakistan’s energy landscape, investors are encouraged to capitalize on these prospects.
He highlighted that the organization has successfully contributed over 18,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid through Independent Power Producers (IPPs), constituting approximately 50% of the total installed capacity. PPIB offers a streamlined process for investors and lenders interested in this sector.
Currently, hydel power accounts for 25% of the energy mix, followed by solar energy at 6% and thermal energy at 69%. A target of 62% energy generation through RE and hydel resources has been set.
The focus is on enhancing the utilization of local resources to incorporate more green energy into the system over the next decade.
Energy:
Acting President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Engineer Azhar Islam, emphasized the importance of affordable energy in fostering business and economic growth. The reliance on oil-generated electricity in Pakistan is costly for the business community, escalating operational expenses significantly. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the government to elevate the contribution of hydropower to overall energy production, ultimately reducing costs and facilitating business operations and exports.
He underscored that Pakistan currently relies heavily on thermal power, accounting for over 58% of total energy production, while hydropower only contributes 28%. He advocated for concrete measures to boost hydropower’s share to at least fifty percent by 2030.
Pakistan possesses substantial untapped potential for generating electricity from renewable sources like water, wind, and solar energy.
Emphasizing the cleanliness and environmental benefits of renewable energy, he urged the government to implement measures to enhance electricity production from sources like hydropower, aiming to lower costs, decrease import expenditures, enhance industrial competitiveness, and boost exports, thereby fostering rapid economic growth.
