Punjab has planned to generate over 5,000MW electricity by 2024, including 300MW by launching several small hydropower projects.
In a bid to cut down reliance on the national grid, Punjab has decided to generate over 5,000MW electricity under short, medium and long-term strategies by 2024. The province has also floated tenders to launch the construction of 12 mini hydropower projects before June this year.
Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Akhtar Malik said in a conversation, “Save electricity for yourself and the nation is a slogan of the federal government, but we have slightly changed it for Punjab. ‘Make Electricity for yourself and the nation’ is our slogan.”
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He added, “For this, we envision Punjab as an energy-secure province by promoting the renewable energy sector involving optimal use of indigenous resources (hydro, waste and biomass), private sector investment, timely regulatory interventions and efficient energy conservation.”
The released report says that Punjab seeks supply of electricity to a number of off-grid villages, setting up generation facilities near load centers/clusters, oil & gas exploration, the addition of 300MW solar energy at the 600MW Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, development of identified 1,000MW wind corridor at Rajanpur, promotion of rooftop solar energy for household, solarisation of public institutes, retrofitting of public institutes and energy conservation building codes.
The report further says that the Punjab Energy Department is functional at different action plans that range from short-term (0-2 years), medium-term (2-5 years) and long-term (5-10 years) in a bid to its objectives under various timelines by the year 2024.
The report states, “The government has started work to launch 50MW waste to energy project in Lahore, 100MW Zhenfa solar, 100MW Zorlu solar projects, solorisation of 4,200 schools (6.8MW) in north and south Punjab, solarisation of CM Secretariat and General Hospital in Lahore (over 3MW), Islamia University in Bahawalpur (2.5MW), 2,324 Basic Health Units (7.24MW), 12 DHQ Hospitals (5MW) and various off-grid villages (5MW), 0.550MW solar/biogas hybrid power system in Vehari and Sumandari and commercial operation of 1,263MW Punjab Thermal Power Project at Trimmu, Jhang.”
