LAHORE: An agreement of cooperation for wind technology projects was signed between the Punjab government and an international company of Denmark here on Thursday.

Energy Department Additional Secretary Khalid Awais Raja signed the agreement on behalf of the Punjab government, while VESTAS vice-president Gerard Carew on behalf of Denmark.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Denmark Ambassador Jespar Moller Sorensen were also present.

The ambassador said that a great deal of potential existed for generating over 1,000 megawatts of electricity from wind in the north and south of Punjab.

He said the wind technology potential in Punjab was greater than in Sindh area of Jhimpir.

According to the agreement, four pilot projects pertaining to wind power would be developed by the Danish company for which the Punjab government would provide all possible facilities.

Every pilot project has the potential of generating up to 250 megawatt electricity. The development work at four potential locations for wind technology will expeditiously be completed on war-footing.

Shahbaz Sharif said the Danish government and its ambassador had helped in locating various areas of Punjab for wind power projects to deal with energy crisis.

He said Denmark was a global leader in wind energy and met a great percentage of energy needs of its own country through wind power.

He said that Punjab would vigorously benefit from the expertise and cooperation of Denmark in wind technology to overcome energy crisis.

The chief minister directed the authority concerned to formulate the Punjab Wind Power Company saying that a Quaid-i-Azam Wind Power Park would be established on the pattern of Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park.

Mr Carew said that Denmark had great expertise in renewable energy and 40 per cent of energy needs of Denmark were being met through wind technology.

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Azmul Haq, Chief Secretary, P&D secretary, Punjab Power Development Company chairman, CEO of Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park and officials of VESTAS were also present.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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