Sindh decries delay in tariffs for wind IPPs
Business
January 15, 2021
KARACHI: Sindh on Thursday dismayed over delay in notification of tariffs for the proposed wind power plants in the province, terming it a move to discourage investment in the renewable energy sector.
Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh said the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority announced cost-plus tariff in August last year for five wind power projects, namely Norinco International Thatta Power, Iran-Pak Wind Power Pvt. Ltd., Sino Well Pvt. Ltd., Shafi Energy Pvt. Ltd. and Moro Power. Company Pvt. Ltd. located in Jhimpir, Thatta.
âHowever, the tariff is not yet notified in gazette of government of Pakistan,â Sheikh said in a letter to Federal Energy Minister Omar Ayub.
Sindh is considered a haven for wind energy, with perfect wind conditions, primarily in Thatta. AFP/File
ABOUT seven kilometres from the Bholari turning point on left side of the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M9), an uneven path leads to a barren land the site of many windmill towers. From M9 I could barely make out the huge windmill towers, or wind turbine towers.
As I reached the site I found some Chinese workers working. Each windmill tower having three long blades was approximately 100 metres high. The blades on the towers were rotating very slowly due to low wind pressure.
This is one of the 10 wind energy projects undertaken by independent power producers (IPPs) in Sindh’s Jamshoro district. These projects are currently passing through various phases of execution. Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh, however, says they have been facing delays.