KARACHI, Aug 30: The Sindh government has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Czech Republic company, WIKOV Wind, for the generation of 50 megawatts of electricity at the so-called wind corridor in Gharo-Jhimpir in Thatta district.

The MoU was signed by Sindh Board of Investment director general Mohammed Riazuddin and Czech Republic company head Martin Wichterle in the presence of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and others on Wednesday. A high-level investment delegation from the Czech Republic also witnessed the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, the Sindh chief minister said that with the grace of the Almighty the province was blessed with natural resources like wind and coal which could not only fulfil the energy requirements of Sindh, but also the whole country.

“Sindh is first province to take lead in power generation through wind and it has the potential of generating 50 thousand megawatts of power through wind in coastal belt of the province,” he said.

He said that previous governments did not add even a single megawatt to the national grid and it was the PPP government under former prime minister Benzair Bhutto which initiated the power generation projects in Badin.

“However, unfortunately this important project was shelved by the Nawaz Sharif government. If that project had not been abandoned, the country would not have been facing the energy crisis these days,” he added.

He said President Asif Ali Zardari took keen interest in the wind power generation and always supported initiatives of the provincial government for the betterment of the people.

He said that investment-friendly polices of the Sindh government were attracting more and more foreign investment in the province.

Later speaking to journalists, the chief minister said that a foreign company wanted to invest in power generation through coal in Badin district.

Briefing about details of the MoU, the Sindh finance minister said that the Sindh government would execute the project, arrange funds while the Czech Republic company would provide the required material, machinery and technology.

He said that financing for the 50MW power project would be arranged before December 31 this year while the construction would start in January 2013.

Czech Republic delegation head Martin Wichterle said that it was a great opportunity for them to invest in the power generation through wind.

“We will bring more business for local industry,” he said and added that the Czech Republic wanted to enhance business and investments opportunities in Pakistan and many other power generation projects were under consideration which would help in resolving the energy crises faced by Pakistan and the bilateral cooperation in the field of trade, business and investment would also get a boost.

He said that the WIKOV Wind was a subsidiary of WIKOV holdings of the Czech Republic and specialised in all kind mechanical equipment.

“WIKOV Wind is specialised in wind turbine technology development, wind turbine main component assembly, developer’s process, actual realisation of construction of wind turbines and wind turbine monitoring, service and maintenance.”

He appreciated the efforts of the Sindh government for helping foreign investors in all sectors of the economy.

Sindh chief security Raja Mohammed Abbas, additional chief secretary of finance Aijaz Ali Khan, additional secretary (planning and development) Malik Israr, secretary information Kazi Shahid Pervaiz, Czech Republic company representatives Jidrich Prokopee and others attended the ceremony.—PPI