KARACHI, March 10: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has described establishment of the Directorate of Alternative Energy at provincial level ‘a welcome step’, and said this would provide consultation to the federation and provinces besides promoting alternative energy sources in remote areas of the country.

Addressing a meeting of government functionaries at the Governor’s House, Dr Ibad said that alternative energy units should be installed in remote areas of Sindh, particularly Thar area, to provide the consumers the energy not requiring fuel in its production and not creating pollution.

Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Alternative Energy Noman Saigal, Secretary Alternative Energy Iqbal Deewan, Director Iqbal Saeed Khan and other officials attended the meeting.

The governor was told that it would the first ever Directorate of Alternative Energy established in the country at provincial level.

Briefing him about the new directorate, the officials said it would help establish alternative energy units which would consume either no or very cheap fuel to generate electricity and would serve as power houses. Such units would cater to the needs of consumers across the province, including Karachi, they added.

He was informed that small hydro turbine and wind turbine having a capacity of at least 100 kilowatt each would be installed in remote areas of the province.

Each power unit producing power for five-six households would be established in those villages where power supply had not reached as yet.

The governor, referring to the establishment of schools and hospitals in remote areas under the Community Welfare System by foreign companies, said that these companies be persuaded to install alternative energy units in this System.

He was informed that development of two ‘solarized parks’ in different parts of the province would soon be undertaken on an experimental basis, while stalls would also be set up to create awareness of the advantages of alternative energy among people in various cities.

The meeting was told that the Department of Alternative Energy would arrange presentations of the alternative energy sources for general public. Such events would also help attract NGOs and foreign investors.

Appreciating the plan for promotion of alternative energy, the governor directed the officials to install such units across the province at the earliest.

He observed that in the backward areas, like Thar, where large hydro electricity units could not be established due to water shortage, power supply could be arranged through wind turbine, biogas and solar system.

Dr Ibad said that the abundant sunshine in this country could be used for producing electricity for industrial development. Wind turbines could also be very beneficial, an examples of which could be witnessed in Holland where this sources provided power supply to farms.

He directed the participants of the meeting to consult foreign scientists for making the most from the alternative sources of energy.—APP