ISLAMABAD: Three Gorges First Wind Farm Project (Private) Limited on Friday signed an offshore and onshore engineering, procurement and construction contract with China Huashui Development Corporation and China International Water and Electric Corporation for setting up the first 49.5-megawatt wind farm in Jhimpir, Sindh.
Speaking at a signing ceremony, Three Gorges Project CEO Wang Shenhang said the project would be set up using advanced technology that would bring Chinese investment in Pakistan. He said the project was part of 2,300MW wind and solar energy projects for which memoranda of understanding were signed between Pakistan and China some time ago.China Three Gorges Corporation signed an understanding for the development of 2,000MW wind power farms and 300MW solar parks in Pakistan during Chinese premier’s visit to Islamabad in December 2010.
“Pakistan has an attractive policy for wind power projects that offers many incentives to international investors,” Shenhang said, adding that investors were carefully looking for investment opportunities in Pakistan.
He said that international investors were also aware of the strategic position of Pakistan. “China and Pakistan have good political and economic relations and my company is looking for making more investment in power projects,” he said, adding that the first wind farm would be a world-class project in quality and technology.
Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) CEO Arif Alauddin said many other companies would be setting up wind power plants in Pakistan. “Under MoUs signed with China, many companies will invest to set up wind power projects,” he said, adding it would also bring economic revival in the country. He said many donors including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) were also supporting Pakistan.
He said the Three Gorges Project had opened bright avenues in Pakistan for Goldwind Turbines, one of the leading turbine manufacturers in the world. He expressed hope that technology related to manufacturing of wind turbine components would be swiftly transferred to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2011.
