LAHORE: Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi says cheap electricity will be provided to the industry through a waste-to-energy project and the Punjab cabinet has already approved the expression of interest for the project.

“The generated electricity will be directly supplied to the industrial estates and the project will be taken forward on a fast track,” he said while talking to an investors delegation, led by German firm Innovative Techno Plus chief executive officer Carsten Wenske, that called on him and expressed willingness for setting up the waste-to-energy project in Lahore besides investment in solar panel manufacturing.

The chief minister said the production cost of the electricity generated through the waste-to-energy project would decrease by more than 50pc.

“It has also been decided to convert streetlights to solar power under a public-private partnership mode. The commissioner’s office, sports grounds and other institutions will also be converted to solar energy. A transmission and distribution company will be established for the transmission of electricity in the province,” he added.

Meanwhile, former federal minister Zartaj Gul met Parvez Elahi and his son, Moonis Elahi, at the Chief Minister’s Office and discussed the political situation and development plans for Dera Ghazi Khan.

The CM reiterated his support for PTI chief Imran Khan, saying those who were creating misunderstandings would fail.

“Our alliance is stronger than ever;” he added and noted that the 13-party cabal proved a wall of sand in front of lone Imran Khan. The timely completion of the development projects of Dera Ghazi Khan will be ensured in consultation with public representatives.

CHINESE FIRM: After Norway and Germany, a Chinese company -- China National Electric Engineering Company -- has also expressed interest in the waste-to-energy project.

A company delegation, led by Fan Xingrui, met the Lahore Waste Management Company administration here on Monday.

During the meeting, Mr Xingrui briefed LWMC CEO Ali Annan Qamar that his company was operating 200-megawatt and 25-megawatt waste-to-energy plants in Thailand.

“In Ethiopia, the production of 25MW electricity from the waste-to-energy plant was also going on successfully,” he claimed.

Mr Qamar said the project would help control environment pollution.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2022