Tricon Boston seeks licences for wind power generation

KARACHI: Tricon Boston Consulting Corporation, a subsidiary of Sapphire Group, has approached the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), seeking generation licence for three of its wind power plants of 50MW each being setup in Sindh, a statement said on Tuesday.

The generation plants are being setup with a cost of $114 million each and all the three plants with a cumulative capacity of 150MW are expected to commence commercial operations by the end of 2017.

Tricon Boston Consulting Corporation (Pvt) Limited is a special purpose vehicle set up by Sapphire Textile Mills Limited to develop, own and operate 3x50MW wind farm as an independent power producer (IPP) in Sindh.

The IPP has carried out a detailed technical and financial feasibility study and has obtained approval for the same from the panel of experts of the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).

Currently, the company is in the process of finalising the engineering, procurement, construction and the operation and maintenance contracts, it said.

The thermal depression of South Asia and the monsoon winds shape up Pakistan's southern coastal areas and northern mountain areas into a land rich in wind energy resources.  The costal wind-energy-rich areas normally refer to Southern Sindh and the vast plateau to the east and the northeast of Karachi City. The relative shortage of conventional energy resources in Pakistan and the hike in fuel prices worldwide spurred the Pakistan government to find alternative sources, including wind power.

The government of Pakistan has formulated a policy to standardise and encourage the participation of private sector in the development and application of renewable energies.