KARACHI, April 19: Twenty foreign and local companies have shown interest in windmills project in Sindh. This was disclosed by the adviser to chief minister on environment and alternate energy, Noman Saigal, during a press conference at his office after his return on Tuesday from Germany and Denmark where he discussed the project with some companies.

He said that a leading Japanese group having expertise in windmill technology was scheduled to arrive here on April 28 to discuss the project. They would meet Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and the concerned functionaries of the provincial government for the purpose. He said foreign investments were pouring in and local banks were also financing the project.

President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Arbab Rahim were personally monitoring the progress about this crucial project, he added.

He was assisted by the provincial secretary for environment and alternate energy, Shamsuddin Memon.

The adviser said government’s target was to set up windmills with electricity production capacity of 100MW by the end of this year. Initially, Mirpur Sakro and Keti Bandar had been marked the best for this purpose. This project would be further expanded by installation of more windmills at coastal belt — on-shore and off-shore.

“The area from Gharo to Keti Bandar has been identified as corridor of wind by international experts,” he said.

Serious concern to the government was how to ensure low tariff for the electricity generated through windmills as it would cost high to the producers in terms of import duties on machinery and developing the required infrastructure there.

“We have already taken up the issue with federal government about rebate in duties to provide relief to the producers and ensure maintainability of the project,” he added.

The electricity produced through this source would either be injected into national grid to supplement the thermal and hydel generation in the country or to sell individual purchasers like KESC, Hesco and Wapda so that Sindh could be the first beneficiary.

He said, “We are also weighing whether these windmills should be set up in one area or at different zones finding small spots to cover up the suspension of generation process in case of stoppage of wind in particular area.”

Noman Saigal said that around 18,000acre land, required for the project, would be provided in phases to ensure its right use. This would be Sindh revenue department’s land which would be sold to the companies through federal government’s Alternate Energy Development Board at government rate subject to approval of the provincial cabinet. Otherwise, he said, the companies would have to purchase land at market rate.

In its first phase, he said, the Alternate Energy Development Board has demanded 3,640acre land from the provincial government for this purpose.

The adviser further said that the land allotted for a windmill would be cancelled if a company failed to execute, install and operate a windmill in the given time.

Mr Saigal said this source of energy generation was costlier than those of thermal and hydel but it was being preferred throughout the world as it was environment friendly. “We could go for solar energy or electricity generation through high tides of the sea, but these sources would be more expensive,” he added.

An international law was coming forth to bind each country to at least meet certain percentage of its energy requirement through environment friendly sources i.e. windmills, solar, high tides, he said adding that India is already producing 5000MW electricity through windmills and selling to end consumers at reasonable rates that encourages the government of Pakistan regarding its viability as Pakistan and India had similarities in social and economic indicators.

He said feasibility study of the project was already being carried out by a foreign company which would be reviewed by the provincial cabinet to ensure its viability. Mandatory requirement of conducting environment impact assessment before initiating the project would also be fulfilled, he said.—APP