June 18, 2006	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

ISLAMABAD, Jun 17: A Norwegian company, NBT AS, will establish manufacturing facilities of Mega Watt Class wind turbines in Pakistan.

This was decided in a meeting held here on Saturday between managing director Karachi Shipyard, Vice Admiral Iftekhar Ahmed Rao and chairman NBT AS, Norway, Arne Myre.

The meeting was chaired by chairman Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDP), Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Hamid.

The firm reached an agreement with the Karachi Shipyard to manufacture wind turbines in Pakistan. The AEDP in pursuance of its mandate facilitated the agreement.

As per the agreement, the Norwegian firm would set up wind turbine manufacturing facility at Karachi Shipyard to manufacture wind turbines with a cumulative capacity of at least 1,000 MW within five years.

AEDB would also facilitate the Norwegian firm in setting up a number of wind power plants in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, chairman AEDB Shahid Hamid stated that the agreement was a leap forward in achieving AEDB's goal of indigenous manufacturing of wind turbines.

He reiterated AEDB's commitment to promote alternative renewable energy in the country and ensured full support to all those interested in undertaking such nergy projects. —APP