ISLAMABAD: Country can generate over 350,000 MW electricity through wind against the total demand of about 21,000 MW in peak summer, urging the need for solid steps to explore the potential.
Official sources in Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) told APP that Pakistan has numerous resources to get energy and around 57,000 MW electricity could be generated only from Gharo-Keti Bandar corridor where average wind speed is more than seven meter per second throughout a year.
They said the corridor has potential which is twice of India and other sites in Balochistan, Punjab, and Northern Area which are being identified for power generation.
The sources said Pakistan is among the world's highest and fastest rising urbanisation and electricity is available to only 57 percent of the population while natural gas to 21 percent.
Only 45 percent of rural population have access to grid electricity and there is extreme shortage of electricity and gas leading to load shedding.
Economic growth is also suffering due to gas and power load shedding, leading to closures of industries, they added.
They said the total installed and dependable capacity of the country's power sector is 20,231 MW.
11,735 MW could get from public sector while 8,496 MW from private sector, they added.
"By switching to alternative energy means, we can reduce dependence on imported oil, running into billions of dollars and undermining economic development," they observed.
It is pertinent to mention that USA has wind power installed capacity of 25,170 MW, Japan 1,880 MW, India 9,645 MW, Greece 985 MW, Egypt 365 MW, Iran 85 while Pakistan has only 6 MW so far.
The government has set up AEDB in 2003 for implementing policies programs and projects through private sector in the field of alternative energy.
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