Sameer Nazir
KARACHI: A Denmark-based company, Vestas, in principle, has shown interest to install a 100 MW wind Power plant at Jhimpir Wind Corridor at an expected cost of $260 million.
In this connection a simple but impressive ceremony was held at CM House here on Monday.
Addressing the ceremony Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that Sindh has a vast wind corridor most probably the largest in Asia. “The experts say that it has the potential to produce more than 50,000 MW wind energy,” he said.
The chief minister said that it was an important day that a Danish company has shown interest to install a 100 MW wind power plant. “Our country is short of energy. Our people want to see production of indigenous power generation,” he said and added that he would like to welcome Demark company to come over and grab the opportunity of investment.
He said the future of wind energy in the Sindh has received a major boost today, as leading representatives from Sindh government and Vestas Wind Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on wind power development in the region.
A delegation of senior Vestas officials travelled to Pakistan to sign the MoU with Sindh government. The signing ceremony took place at the Chief Minister’s House. It was attended by Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, and H.E. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan.
Vestas, a Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer internationally recognised as the global leader in wind energy, has been a first mover in Pakistan, having supplied turbines to one of the first commercial wind farms now in operation. In 2014, a Vestas delegation met with the Government of Sindh during a week-long visit to Pakistan facilitated by the Embassy of Denmark in Pakistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Gerard Carew, Vestas’ Vice President of Sales in Asia Pacific, explained that Pakistan was an emerging wind energy market where the company was ready to grow its presence.
He said “this MOU signing follows our initial meetings with Sindh Government in 2014 and subsequent discussions that have now cemented our shared ambition to have wind energy play a major role in overcoming the energy crisis in Pakistan,” and added “the Sindh province is blessed with excellent wind resources, and Vestas has the experience, knowledge, and products & services to deliver highly productive and reliable wind power plants in the region. We are delighted to be working with Sindh government to assist in the development of wind power in the region.”
The Embassy of Denmark in Islamabad has supported Vestas in implementing its market growth plan, following on from two conferences on wind energy in Pakistan it helped arrange in 2014.
Addressing the ceremony H.E. Jesper Moller Sorensen, Ambassador of Denmark to Pakistan said “Pakistan has a huge potential for wind energy, and Denmark is a market leader, when it comes to technology for production of energy from wind. In 2014, over 40 percent of all electricity in Denmark was generated by wind power. Denmark’s success story, technology and experience can play an important role in the further expansion of wind in Sindh,” he added that he was happy to witness that active steps were being taken to bring environmentally sustainable solutions to bridge the energy gap in Pakistan.
He said ” I am confident that Vestas’ technical expertise and experience in realizing large scale wind farms could be a great contribution to the development of the Pakistani energy sector.”
Under the MOU, Vestas will provide wind & site engineering and associated technical services to the Sindh government as it undertakes project development activities for an initial 100 MW wind farm with future potential to expand up to 300 MW. Through its network and interactions with renewable energy investors and financial institutions, Vestas will also help to facilitate project equity and debt financing for the project with assistance from the Embassy of Denmark.