Pakistan and European Union have agreed for cooperation in energy conservation and energy efficiency and in this regard the Power Division will send a high-level delegation, comprising government officials and private sector experts, to the EU to participate in a workshop with European experts and professionals.
The decision was made on Wednesday in a meeting between Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and EU Ambassador Jean Fancois Cautain. It was further agreed upon that the European Investment Bank will be invited to the subject workshop to explore different options relating to financing the energy related projects in Pakistan.
Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari while thanking the EU ambassador for hosting the workshop on promotion of energy efficiency and energy conservation said that after having successfully bridging the demand and supply gape, now it is of utmost importance that the consumers should be educated on usage of electricity. The education will not only save money for the consumers but also help in efficient utilization of the existing generation capacity as one megawatt saved is far better than one megawatt generated, he added.
The federal minister also invited the European Investment Bank and other EU potential assistance partners for assistance in establishment of Pakistan's First Renewable Energy Institute. He said that he will meet the chairman Higher Education Commission for identification of suitable university in Pakistan for establishment of the institute.
He also proposed which was agreed upon by the EU ambassador that both the Power Division and EU Embassy will appoint focal persons to frequently interact on matters relating to the energy cooperation between the two sides.
The federal minister highlighted salient features of the government's plan to solarize some 30,000 tube wells in Balochistan and also invited the EU to take part in the process.
The European Union ambassador said that the European investment Bank is keenly observing the fast expanding power sector in Pakistan. He said that the Bank will for sure be considering option of assistance in solarization of tube wells in Balochistan. He said that EU is already working closely with the government of KPK on a number of renewable energy projects, most of which are hydel. The ambassador assured the minister that the EU will continue to provide assistance to Pakistan in the energy sector.
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