ISLAMABAD: Federal government is all set to launch three solar power projects of 2,400megawat (MW) in South Punjab and the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved above Rs 6 billion amount for the land acquisition of these solar power projects.
Sources in the power sector said that the government has started the process to install 2400MW solar power plants in Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Jhang district of south Punjab.
To materialize the plan, a meeting of CDWP which was held on 28th October 2022 had approved Rs 6.616 million worth heavy amount for the land acquisition of 2400MW solar power projects to be installed in three districts of south Punjab.
They said that though there was no allocation of funds in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), the government is going to start the solar power project worth approximately Rs 6 billion and 7 core as it has granted out of the way approval for ensuring availability of cheap electricity in the country.
However, they also said there will be a capacity trap with the installation of these 2400MW solar power projects because various power plants will have to be kept closed for obtaining cheap electricity from these solar power projects. The country will have to face a new challenge of capacity trap with installation of 2400MW solar power plants and by obtaining cheap electricity from them, said sources.
According to Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives’ working paper for Pre-CDWP, total Rs 2,658 million is required for acquiring 4,800 acres of land on Muzaffargarh-Gharmore road (at Sher Garh) tehsil Chobara district Layyah for installation of 1200MW solar power plant.
And, land acquisition process will be led by National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) while the proposed period of implementation is seven months (01-12-2022 till 30-06-2023). The main objective of this solar power project is acquisition of land for installation of 600MW solar power plant at district Layyah to displace the expensive fossil fuel-based power generation as per the decision of the Government of Pakistan (GoP).
Similarly, total 24,00 acres of land at tehsil Chowk Manda district Muzaffargarh will be required for installation of 600MW solar plant and for this approximately Rs 1,400 million will be required while land acquisition process will be led by NTDC. Proposed period of implementation for this 600MW solar power project in Muzaffargarh district is seven months (01-12-2022 till 30-06-2023).
The main objective of this solar power project is acquisition of land for installation of 600MW solar power plant at Muzaffargarh to displace the expensive fossil fuel-based power generation as per the decision of the GoP.
Moreover, total Rs 2,558 million will be required for 2,400 acres of land in Moza Uch Gul Imam tehsil Athara Hazari district Jhang for installation of 600MW solar power plant. Proposed period of implementation of this 600MW solar power project in Jhang district is seven months (01-12-2022 till 30-06-2023). The main objective of this project is acquisition of land for installation of a 600MW solar power plant at Trimmu (Jhang) to displace the expensive fossil fuel-based power generation.
It is pertinent to mention that higher international prices of fuel have been causing high power tariff for the electricity consumers and also building up the circular debt on one hand and escalating the manufacturing costs of local products on other while damaging the export industry.
Thermal generation still has a significant share in electricity generation of Pakistan. However, the addition of 2400MW of power in the system by constructing solar power projects at Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Jhang will ease the upcoming energy demands and increase the capacity and share of solar in the thermal-oriented mix system.
