Pak-German Renewable Energy Forum soon: envoy

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Germany to Pakistan Ina Lepel on Saturday said Pak-German Renewable Energy Forum (REF) would be launched to help bring together and connect Pakistani German actors from public and private sectors of RE&EE.

Speaking at the 5th International Exhibition and Conference Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, she said the German Development Cooperation had been engaged in renewable energy and energy efficiency (RE&EE) since 1962, the very beginnings of Pakistan-German Development Cooperation.

"Our objective is to support sustainable electricity supply in Pakistan and to help improve the efficient use of energy," she added.

The ambassador said, "Besides financial and technical cooperation in the sector reaching from the construction of hydropower plants to support the energy sector reform and policy our goal was to leverage the potential for business in the area of RE&EE that existed in both the countries."

Pakistan has large potential for sustainable economic and social development due to its geographical realities as a trade corridor its agricultural and human resources and its potential as a competitive exporter of goods in high demand within the region and beyond.  Pakistan's potential in terms of RE was even bigger than that of Germany, she said.

Pakistan has more wind corridors more photovoltaic potential and also exceptional opportunities for hydropower.

She said there were ample possibilities to engage businesses, which would create employment and income and would contribute to Pakistan’s economic development.

Lepel said next to the private sector development partners could also play a pivotal role, especially by providing expertise and specific technologies.

AEDB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amjad Ali Awan said Pakistan RE sector has tremendous response from international market and mapping of solar and wind potential was in progress, while Biomass mapping had already been completed.