The Pakistan government on Friday signed deals with developers of 560MW of wind power, in a move its President Imran Khan said would increase security of supply in the nation.
Pakistan’s Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) signed implementation and guarantee agreements with 11 projects, most of the capacity coming from the so-called ‘Super-Six’ projects in the Jhimpir wind corridor in Sindh Province that secured $320m of financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
The Super Six – five 50MW plants and one of 60MW – are expected to deliver electricity at rates 40% lower than the country’s current average cost, said the IFC.
The six wind farms are in line for 25-year power deals and are set to be equipped by Siemens Gamesa (110MW) and Goldwind of China (200MW), according to documents on the IFC’s website.
Construction of the projects will be carried out by HydroChina and is due to begin next year.
“We hope this will send a strong signal to the private sector that the renewable energy market in Pakistan is viable and sustainable, as well as beneficial to the Pakistani people,” said IFC vice president for Asia and Pacific, Nena Stoiljkovic.
Pakistan had just under 1.2GW of wind in place by the end of 2018, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.
A draft policy published by the AEDB envisages 20% of national power coming from renewables by 2025, and 30% by 2030.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who attended the signing ceremony for the deals, told reporters the projects would help the country’s long-term energy planning and reduce its reliance on imports.
Pakistan has for years been prone to crippling blackouts, caused by a range of factors from poor infrastructure to market disfunctions.
Pakistan had just under 1.2GW of wind in place by the end of 2018, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.
