Pakistan can generate over 350,000 MW electricity through only wind power

Official sources in Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) told APP that the country’s has numerous resources to get energy and over 50,000 MW energy could be generated only in Gharo- Keti Bandar corridor where average wind speed is more than seven meter per second.

They said the corridor has potential twice of India and other sites in Balochistan, Punjab, and Northern Area which are being identified for wind power generation.

The sources said Pakistan has amongst the world highest and fastest rising urbanization and electricity is available to only 57 per cent of the population while natural gas to 21 per cent. Only 45 per cent of rural population have access to grid electricity and there is extreme shortage of electricity and gas leading to load shedding.

The country’s economic growth is also suffering due to load shedding of gas and power, leading to closures of industries, they added. They said the total installed and dependable capacity of the country’s power sector is 20,231 MW.

Giving breakup, they said 11,735 MW could be get from public sector while 8,496 MW from private sector. “By switching to alternative energy means, we can reduce dependence on imported oil, running into billions dollars and undermining economic development,” they observed.

It is pertinent to mention that USA has wind farm installed capacity of 40,000 MW, Japan 1,880 MW, India 9,645 MW, Greece 985 MW, Egypt 365 MW, Iran 85 and Pakistan 6 MW. The government had set up AEDB in 2003 for implementing policies programmes and projects through private sector in the field of alternative energy.

www.aedb.org/

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