ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan Ina Lepel said Pak-German Renewable Energy Forum (REF) would be launched to help bring together and connect Pakistani-German actors from public and private sectors of RE&EE.
Speaking at an 5th International Exhibition and Conference Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, she said the German Development Cooperation had been engaged in renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) since 1962, the very beginnings of Pakistan-German Development Cooperation.
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“Our objective is to support sustainable electricity supply in Pakistan and to help improving the efficient use of energy,” she added.
The ambassador said besides financial and technical cooperation in the sector, reaching from the construction of hydropower plants to support to the energy sector reform and policy, our goal was to leverage the potential for business in the area of RE&EE that existed in both countries.
She said Pakistan has large potential for sustainable economic and social development due to its geographical realities as a trade corridor, its agricultural and human resources and its potential as a competitive exporter of goods in high demand within the region and beyond.
The ambassador said Pakistan’s potential in terms of RE was even bigger than that of Germany.
Pakistan has more wind corridors, more photovoltaic potential and also exceptional opportunities for hydropower, she said.
She said there were ample possibilities to engage business, which would create employment and income and would contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.
Ina Lepel said next to the private sector, development partners could also play a pivotal role, especially by providing expertise and specific technologies in order to provide a boost for the sector of RE&EE.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alternative Energy Development Board, Amjad Ali Awan said Pakistan RE sector has tremendous response from international market and mapping of solar and wind potential was in progress while Bio-mass mapping had already been completed.
He said efforts were being made to enhance RE share up 35 per cent of energy mix in order to ensure energy security.
He said Pakistan has over 40,000 MW potential only in Karachi-Keti Bandar Wind corridor. The same areas were also gifted by solar energy, he added.
The CEO said ADEB has set a target to generate some over 3000 MW electricity from RE.
Dean of Air University Dr Zafar Ullah Koreshi said there was a need of hour to promote RE. Some over 40,000-50,000 MW electricity could be generated from hydel resources, he added.
Vice Chairman Renewable Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP) Asif in his welcome note said that RE was only solution to cut power load-shedding.
Earlier, the Ambassador opened the exhibition by cutting ribbon. Later, Ms Ina Lepel visited various stall set up by various companies deal in solar technologies.
