Burj Capital seeks wind power generation licence

KARACHI: Dubai-based Burj Capital sought generation licence from the government to set up 13.8 megawatts of wind power plant with an estimated cost of $27.73 million in Thatta, an official document said.

Burj Capital is a developer, investor and co-owner of renewable power plants. The proposed 13.8 MW project is its second wind power project. Burj Capital’s first wind independent power producer of 50MW Jhimpir Power Limited started production in March. The group operates Burj Wind Energy Pvt. Ltd for its projects in the country.

Pakistan’s huge energy crisis is jeopardising its economic progress and social development.

The major reasons for the energy crisis are lack of investment in power sector, non-development of

renewable energy sector and the depleting hydrocarbon reserves.

Government has tasked the Alternative Energy Development Board to ensure five percent of total national power generation capacity to be generated through renewable energy technologies by the year 2030.

The US Agency for International Development and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimate that Pakistan has more than 132 gigawatt of wind energy capacity and has so far exploited only one percent of it.

Electricity production from the locally-produced gas and imported liquefied natural gas stood at around 43 percent, followed by hydel (19.44 percent), coal (15.79 percent) and furnace oil (8.33 percent), according to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.

Burj Capital is also entering the private power space in Pakistan, taking advantage of falling cost of technologies, such as solar and targeting the unmet power needs of consumers.