ISLAMABAD: The government of Sindh has urged the Power Division to notify tariffs of five wind power projects as investors feel that the government is discouraging investment in wind power.

In a letter to Minister for Energy, Omar Ayub Khan, Sindh Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Shaikh stated Nepra recently announced cost plus tariff in August, 2020 for 5 wind power projects namely Norinco International Thatta Power, Iran-Pak wind power Pvt Limited Sino well Pvt Limited, Shafi Energy Pvt Limited and Moro Power Company Pvt Limited located in Jhimpir Thatta Sindh however, the tariff is not yet notified in Gazette of Government of Pakistan.

A delegation comprising of local and foreign investors involved in development of wind power projects approached Sindh Government through Energy Department stating that this move of Government is reflective of strong intent on the part of the Government to discourage further investment in the sector of wind power development, the letter added.

Furthermore; the recently announced ARE policy 2019 envisages the inclusion of RE resources in country's power mix at 20% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. The early commissioning of these IPPs would definitely be a sizeable step to meet these targets.

Minister for Energy Sindh, further emphasised the importance of developing indigenous and relatively cheap RE sources to overcome the prevailing shortage of energy, and requested that Ministry of Energy (Power Division) be directed to notify the tariff of 5 wind IPPs in order to encourage the investors and promote wind power industry.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021