Punjab reviews alternate power generation projects

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting here today which reviewed power generation projects from alternative sources, biogas plant and the programme of solar panel distribution. Member Provincial Assembly Ch. Arshad Jutt, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretaries of Energy, Finance and Agriculture Departments, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Chief Engineer Energy and experts were present. Secretary Energy and Secretary Agriculture informed about their visit to China and the talks held with Chinese Power Generation Companies.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the serious energy crisis has affected all sectors and there is need for taking measures on emergent basis for countering this problem. He directed to further accelerate the work on power generation projects from alternative sources. He directed that the setting up of 50MW power generation projects from coal in industrial estate under public private partnership should be expedited. He said that provision of relief to the masses hit by protracted loadshedding is of a vital importance. He said that Punjab government has evolved a programme of distribution of solar panels and solar lamps in far flung and backward areas of the province. The Chief Minister constituted a committee headed by Chairman Planning & Development for the purchase of solar lamps. He said that there is a vast scope of generation of solar energy in South Punjab and the Chinese companies which specialize in this field should be invited for this purpose. He said that the representatives of the companies specializing in power generation from coal and the firms associated with bio-gas plants and manufacturing of solar panels be invited and negotiations be held with them for cooperation in these projects. He said that setting up of Pak-China Bio-Gas Institute and Bio-Gas Plant in Livestock Farms of Punjab government should also be considered.

Secretary Agriculture and Secretary Energy while informing about their negotiations with Chinese companies associated with energy sectors during their visit to China informed that these companies are interested in consultation and cooperation in energy sector. They said that cooperation between Chinese BIO MA company and Faisalabad Agriculture University with regard to bio-gas can be promoted. They said that Chinese company is also willing to provide training to Pakistani engineers in bio-gas.