BALOCHISTAN is rich in renewable energy (RE) resources and the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) has identified many RE projects in remote areas of the province.

Though the AEDB says it is all set to launch the identified projects, the federal government has not provided funds so far this year for the projects. In the long-term, solar thermal power plant is considered as an economical and cost-effective energy source, since there is no fuel cost.

Balochistan’s annual average mean daily solar radiation is at 5.9-6.2KWh/sq.m,’ says Dr. Anwar Khan, the AEDB’s project director for northern Balochistan. ‘Under remote village electrification programme, we are bringing solar energy technology to electrify 300 villages identified as solar homes. A solar home costs Rs100,000 but a solar energy system can be installed with one-time expenditure and the system needs no additional expenditure for years.’ ‘Solar energy-based projects are eco-friendly and sustainable,’ Dr Anwar Khan added.

Established as an autonomous body in 2003, AEDB is working on developing RE technologies. It has been mandated to ensure five per cent of total national power generation capacity through energy technologies by the year 2030.

Under the AEDB’s programme, 6968 remote villages are to be electrified through solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the next 20 years. All the RE projects, being undertaken by AEDB in the country, are financed by federal government through public sector development programme (PSDP) allocation.

Dr Khan told this scribe that the approved cost for RE projects in PC-I for northern, southern and central Balochistan was Rs308.96 million, Rs280.30 million and Rs316.43 million, respectively. An amount of Rs100 million was given to AEDB in March 2007 from the Khush-hal Pakistan programme, against the allocated Rs592.18 million. The lack of funds caused delay in implementation of AEDB’s approved projects by one year.

Last February, AEDB opened its project offices after it received Rs100 million from the federal government. In the current fiscal year, AEDB hopes to get Rs250 million for carrying out its village electrification programme through solar energy but the amount is still awaited.

‘Presently, we have completed topographic survey of target villages in the province, but we are still waiting for release from the Prime Minister Fund,’ said Dr.Khan. ‘As soon as the funds are released, the AEDB will undertake installation of solar systems,’ he added.

In the fiscal year 2004-05, 121 houses were electrified through solar energy in Allah Baksh Bazar Dandar village in Turbat district. In the fiscal year 2005-06, 100 houses at Takht village in district Kalat and Kili Mama Macherzai village in district Killa Saifullah were electrified. Solar energy systems are working effectively and supplying power to beneficiaries in remote areas where use of fuel-wood is common.

The solar power plants will reduce the dependency on fossil fuels in remote areas. The operation and maintenance cost is nominal, compared to conventional power plants. Moreover, these plants will also avoid the risk of future electricity cost escalation. They are emissions-free in nature and ideally suited to reduce green house gases and other pollutants.

Under village electrification programme, clean drinking water will be provided through use of solar water disinfector and solar cooker will also be used to avoid unnecessary cutting of trees in rural areas.

Northern Balochistan has a tremendous potential for development of horticulture, particularly the fruit farms. Thousands tons of apples are exported each year from the province. Regular and sustainable supply of electricity is essential to enhance production and export of quality fruits. The local growers of fruits are facing electricity load shedding and power fluctuation.

‘The fruit crops are adversely affected by scarcity of water, as tube wells do not operate for the required period of time due to the power shortage’ said Hassan Khan, a local farmer and union nazim of Tehsil Bullozai in district Pishin. Water scarcity has destroyed many orchards in northern Balochistan, he added.

Balochistan’s solar energy potential needs to be exploited fully in view of the growing energy demand. Solar energy is the most reliable and abundantly available renewable source. The province has an average daily global insulation of 19 to 20 million joules/m2 a day with an annual mean sunshine duration of 8-8.5 hours. These values are among the highest in the world. For daily global radiation up to 23 million joules/m2, 24 (80 per cent) consecutive days are available in this area. Such data are ideal for PV and other solar energy applications. The need is to take advantage of solar technologies to meet the challenge of electricity deficit.