Islamabad, Oct 19, 2008 -- BBC Monitoring

Pakistan would be able to produce another 1,000 MW of power through wind energy within a next few years, Director, Technical Alternative Energy Development Board, Irfan Afzal Mirza said Sunday.

Talking to Voice of Germany (VOG), he said approval has already been accorded to 23 projects. Each project would be able to produce 50 MW of power. So the country would produce 1,000 MW energy through wind within a period of next three to four years.

"We have gone much ahead of file work as 23 investors have already been allotted land. Eight of them have finalized their feasibility. Eight investors have been given power generation licences and four people have even been issued tariffs," he opined.

He said three investors are negotiating with an Indian company Suzman for getting wind turbines of 100 MW each.

Pakistan has a God-gifted corridor of wind situated in Gharo just 35 km away from Karachi [Sindh Province]. Land has also been allotted to potential investors to install turbines and produce power through wind. The first wind turbine, having the capacity to generate six MW, would be completed in the last week of November.

"The project will be inaugurated by the president or prime minister. We also expect to produce 159 to 200 MW energy through wind within next two years," he added.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 1256gmt 19 Oct 08

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