World’s largest solar power project launched in Sindh

KARACHI: Pakistan’s first and the world’s largest solar power project has been launched in Sindh. This project will be an important milestone in providing affordable electricity, in line with the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, stated Sindh Provincial Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah.

Syed Nasir Shah participated in the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Energy and Go Energy Pvt Limited for the 550 MW floating solar energy project on Kenjhar Lake. Secretary Energy Mossadiq Ahmed Khan, CEO-STDC Salim Shaikh, CEO-Go Green Amar Ali Talat, and Director K-Electric Haris Siddiqui were also present.

The Energy Minister said that Go Energy Private Limited is undertaking this project with the cooperation of STDC, Sindh Energy Department, and Sindh Irrigation Department.

The STDC Kenjhar Lake Power Project will lay a 220 kV transmission line of about 60 km to the K-Electric grid station Dhabiji in Karachi. Nasir Shah said that K-Electric is the off-taker of the 500MW floating power project, for which K-Electric has provided a Letter of Intent (LOI), and the Energy Department has also provided a Letter of Intent (LOI).

He said that this project is environmentally friendly as it will help prevent water evaporation and benefit aquatic life. He added that the project will also benefit land conservation, promote green energy in Sindh, and provide a source of affordable electricity. He added that this project will boost the economy of the Sindh province by creating jobs.

Nasir Shah said that the Government of Sindh is determined and working hard to utilize these renewable resources at a faster pace. Their effort is to reduce the overall basket tariff of NEPRA and make electricity more affordable for the common people of the country.

Apart from tariff reduction, renewable energy will also contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals, creating a clean, reliable, and sustainable environment.

They hope to complete the project by the end of 2026. Secretary Energy Mossadiq Ahmad Khan said that, on the special directives of the Minister of Energy, work is underway on several projects to provide cheap and free electricity to the people.

He added that mini-grid stations will be set up at the district level to provide affordable and environmentally friendly electricity to the remote areas of Sindh.

The Secretary Energy said that the cost of electricity generated from this floating plant will be Rs15 per unit, which will be much lower than other power generation plants.

CEO STDC Salim Shaikh said that, compared to K-Electric, STDC’s line has never tripped, and while STDC’s line losses have never gone above 1.6%, NEPRA has allowed line losses up to 2%. Go Energy Chief Officer Amar Ali Talat said that it is a unique idea.

He added that Kenjhar is the world’s largest clean water lake where a floating project has been developed with the support of Government Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah and K-Electric. The MoU was signed today, and he expressed his gratitude to all the contributors.

He said that experts from Singapore have studied this project. The project will prevent a quarter of the lake’s water from evaporating. Earlier, STDC CEO Saleem Shaikh and Go Green Energy CEO Amar Ali Talat signed the MoU.