Govt focusing on promotion of solar technology: minister

LAHORE:Provincial Minister of Industry and Commerce Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said Punjab government is focusing on the promotion of solar technology in the province. Industry, government institutions, homes and agricultural tube-wells are being shifted to solar technology.

He expressed these views during his visit to Raya Golf and Country Club Defence on Friday where he along with the officials of the Chinese company launched a new solar product together.

Ch Shafay said that Pakistan is facing the challenge of environmental pollution. There are strong friendly and economic relations between Pakistan and China and both countries can move forward together in green energy. He said our future is related to the promotion of solar technology and discussions are ongoing with foreign companies regarding the production of solar panels in Punjab. The Chinese company Huawei also cooperates in the solar sector. He said talks are ongoing with the federal government for reduction in the heavy duty imposed on the import of motors of solar panels.

The provincial minister said that there are vast opportunities for investment in 18 special economic zones of Punjab. There is a 10-year income tax exemption on investment in these special economic zones while, the import of one time duty-free machinery is also allowed.

The provincial minister said that Chinese companies should take advantage of the investment opportunities in these industrial zones. The Chinese company Huawei should set up a solar panel manufacturing plant in Punjab for which the government will provide all possible facilities. The provincial minister congratulated the Chinese company on the launch of a new solar product. The authorities of Chinese company and investors attended the ceremony.

Neelum-Jhelum project achieves maximum capacity after repair

Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project has achieved its maximum generation capacity of 969 MW after completion of repair work on one of its tunnels. Following resumption of its operation early this month after inspection of the tail race tunnel (TRT), the project is continuously in operation as per the availability of water and contributing electricity to the National Grid, especially during Sehr and Iftar of the holy month of Ramadan.

Taking advantage of the low-flow season, operation of Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project was stopped on January 10 for inspection of the rehabilitated tail race tunnel. Subsequently, the detailed inspection was successfully carried out prior to resumption of generation from the project early this month. Most importantly, International Panel of Experts also inspected the tail race tunnel.

Neelum Jhelum is a unique hydropower project with 90% being underground under high mountains over burden. The project, completed in 2018 on River Neelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, comprises of a Dam at Nauseri, an underground waterway system consisting of 52-Km long tunnels and an underground powerhouse at Chattar Kalas with four power generating units of 242.25 MW each.

With average annual energy generation of 4.6 billion units, Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project has so far been generated 19.562 billion units of green and clean electricity, thus, significantly contributing to meet electricity requirements of the country.