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Punjab to initiate solar projects: Shahbaz
Punjab CM says 46 sites have been selected for setting up small solar projects
APP
LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said here on Sunday that there is a vast scope of generation of electricity from solar energy in Punjab and 46 sites have been selected for setting up small solar projects to minimize shortage of power.
He was chairing a meeting to review prospects of setting up solar energy projects in Punjab, while German solar expert Dr. Gerwin Greesman and Additional Chief Secretary Energy Jehanzeb Khan gave a briefing on small solar power projects.
The chief minister said that resolving of energy crisis is essential for eliminating poverty and unemployment as well as accelerating trade and economic activities, adding that government is taking all possible measures to deal with the issue of shortage of electricity.
He said that untimely protests and sit-ins have wasted a lot of precious time of the nation and there is no room for further delay. He said that collective efforts are needed to remove darkness from the country and the concerned departments and institutions will have to perform their duties in this regard with a renewed spirit.
Shahbaz said that energy crisis has badly affected education, health, agriculture and other social sectors. He said that resolving of energy problem is of vital importance for promotion of industrialization.
He said that the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is making sincere efforts to deal with energy issue, asserting, there are vast opportunities of generation of electricity from solar power and solar projects of one to fifty megawatts will play an important role in minimizing shortage of electricity.
He said that concerned departments should spare no effort for speedy implementation of small solar projects. Shahbaz Sharif directed that immediate measures be adopted for implementation of small solar projects and a team be formed for speedy and transparent execution of these projects.
Punjab government, he said, is initially setting up a 100-megawatt solar project in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur with its own resources and work is being carried out speedily over this project which will start producing electricity by the end of the current year.
The chief minister said that Punjab government is also working on coal, hydra, biogas, biomass and other projects of generation of power from alternative sources.
He said that there is also a vast scope of production of electricity from biomass and speedy efforts are needed in this direction. He said that government is working round the clock for resolving energy problem and overcoming other issues and the day is not far when the country will put on the road to progress and prosperity.
Advisor Azm-ul-Haq, senior member Board of Revenue, additional chief secretary energy, managing director NTDC, officers of MEPCO, FESCO, NEPRA, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, energy experts as well as German solar power expert Dr. Gerwin Preesman also attended the meeting.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk