LAHORE: Government’s decision to purchase excess solar power generated by the private sector would revolutionize the energy sector as it would curtail the burden from conventional power system and ensure sufficient availability for the manufacturing sector.
In a statement issued here Monday, Chairman Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) Abdul Basit said that Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif deserve appreciation for promoting much-needed alternate energy resources in the country.
“It is an ample proof that the government is spending sufficient amount of energy and resources for the promotion alternate energy resources”, Abdul Basit said.
Abdul Basit said that government is fully promoting solar power to meet the shortage of electricity by adopting an advanced approach to overcome the ongoing energy crisis.
He said that use of alternate energy resources can easily reduce burden on the national grid besides reducing electricity bills and line losses therefore private sector should come forward and step in the alternate power projects
Chairman PBIT said that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif is working day & night to promote alternate energy resources in the province and work on a number or projects is well on the way.
He said that Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park project will start producing 300 MW of electricity by the end of ongoing year. He said that Chief Minister Punjab has also signed various agreement with the Chinese companies to produce cheap electricity.
He said that that the project would be completed quickly. “The upgrade of transmission lines is continuing for adding the electricity generated by the solar project to the national grid. All departments concerned are working with mutual coordination under the guidance of Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
Chairman PBIT said that Punjab government is utilizing maximum resources to correct energy mix through coal-fired and solar power projects.
He said that Punjab government is restructuring the mining sector as lack of modern technology is coming in the way of fully exploitation of coal mining. He urged the private sector to come forward and invest in mining sector that would be a great service to the country.
He said that to equip mineral sector with up-to-date technology is one of the top priorities of the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif. He said that modern technology would help full utilization of domestic coal reserves which have addition quantity of sulphur and ash.
Abdul Basit said that energy conservation is also need of the hour therefore business community should supplement the government efforts in this regard.
Abdul Basit urged the private sector to join hands with the government to promote alternate energy sources in the country.
