Second wind energy pilot project becomes operational in Pakistan

Islamabad - A bird's eye view from Daman-e-Koh (Courtesy APP)

The second wind power pilot project has been made operational on last Friday evening by installing a wind turbine at Daman-i-Koh, the highest point of the Capital.

According to press release the simple installation ceremony in this regard was held and attended by selected gathering consisting of CEO, Engineering Development Board (EDB), Aitzaz A. Niazi, other senior officials of the Board, team of private TV Channel and management of AGECO Firm, says a press release received from EDB here today.

AGECO has earlier installed successfully first wind energy turbine at F-7 crossing for generating energy by flow of traffic and supply it to traffic signals. The landmark achievement of AGECO was appreciated by CEO, EDB. He pleaded to the government to grant special concessions to pioneer of the wind energy projects in the country. The second wind turbine will generate 2 kw energy and its life is 20 years. Therefore, it is financially viable as it covers its cost in first year of operation.

The firm planned to generate enough wind energy for supply of electricity to street lights and traffic signals of the Capital. EDB has taken up their case with the CDA Chairman for meeting their demand of enough suitable sites. The Firm has also a plan to cover Lahore Rawalpindi motorway for similar projects.

A wind energy vertical turbine has been designed by the AGECO Firm which operates at availability of wind in range of 2.1 meters to 7 meters per second against the maximum required range of 3.5 meters per second to generate 1.5 to 2 kw of energy in 24 hours. The locally designed wind energy turbine will cost Rs. 200,000 per kw as compared to imported turbine costing Rs. 1 million per kw.

Source: www.onlinenews.com.pk, http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=10209

Turkish power company gets ADB loan for Wind Energy

Zorlu Enerji Elektrik Uretim AS, a Turkish power utility, has won a $36.8 million loan from the Asian Development Bank to expand its wind farm in Pakistan. The loan will help Zorlu Enerji install additional wind turbines to increase the capacity at its project in southern Sindh province to 56.4 megawatts from 6 megawatts, the Manila- based ADB said in a statement on its website.

The loan is for 12 years with a two-year grace period.

Expansion of the farm, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of Karachi, will cost $147 million and is expected to be completed by 2012.

The project will be financed with 30 percent equity from Zorlu Enerji. The remaining 70 percent will be financed through the dollar-denominated loans from the ADB, the International Finance Corp., and the ECO Trade and Development Bank, as well as a Pakistan rupee loan from Karachi-based Habib Bank Ltd., it said.

The project will supply power to the national grid through a 20-year power purchase agreement with Pakistan’s National Transmission and Dispatch Company.

Pakistan has set a 6 percent target of renewable energy by 2030. Zorlu Enerji’s project is Pakistan’s first privately owned and financed wind farm, the ADB said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Natalie Obiko Pearson in Mumbai atnpearson7@bloomberg.net.

Editor responsible for this story: Reed Landberg at landberg@bloomberg.net.

Courtesy: Bloomberg