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Turkish company Zurlu has installed first wind turbine in Pakistan. The first turbine of wind energy will generate 50 MW and was installed in Pakistan in Jamphir, Sindh. NEPRA approved tariff in May 08 for .

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CEO of M/s Zorlu Enerji Group, Murat Sungur Bursa said this at a press conference arranged by Board of Investment (BOI) in collaboration with M/s Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Limited (ZEPL) at a local hotel on Wednesday.

Arif Elahi, Director General, BOI Karachi, Mehboob Haq, Investment Advisor, BOI, Muslim Abbassi COO, Provincial Committee on Investment and Director Alternate Energy Development Board Nazir Ahmed Soomro were also present on the occasion. In Pakistan 30% of the peoples dont have any accessibility to electricity, said Murat Sungar.

This step would usher an era of investment in very important area of energy in Pakistan and this region, he added. The turbine is 100 meter high and Zorlu Energy Group will build first wind farm in Pakistan which after the completion of first phase by January 2009 provide electricity to 60000 households, he said.

The plant will reach a capacity of 50 MW in the second phase with plans to increase the capacity up to 300 MW, he said. Zorlu Energy group will then be providing electricity comparable to the generation capacity of the Kanupp nuclear plant in Pakistan with totally green, totally renewable and totally indigenous resource, he added.

The investors face problems of high political risk, social unrest, rise of exchange rate, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other risks in Pakistan, said Murat. But there is no safe haven on this piece of earth and one could be subjected to natural or manmade disaster, he added.

Murat Sungur Bursa said that economic and investment environment in Pakistan is improving and the country has a vibrant economy. He said that the country needs energy as blackouts have been in half of the country.

He said that Pakistan has its strategic importance and the bureaucracy is very friendly in this country while there is a transparent regulatory environment. He said that the infrastructure available is well developed for the energy production and the country has high calibre trained manpower.

There is a fundamental need of present gap and growth demand of electricity, said Murat. He added that power policy offers liberal incentives and there is a competitive return on investment.

Murat said that standardized and tested agreements are done between the government and his company for the investment. He added that Pakistan has one of the best and unexploited wind potential in the world.

Murat said that the company gives commitment for the renewable energy investment. He added that Pakistani government is trying to pursue renewable energy investment.

The total generation of energy in Pakistan is 20 thousand Mega Watt out which 61 % is produced by public sector and 39 % is produced by private sector, said Bursa. There is a huge demand for the new energy generation in the country, he added.

In almost every developing country the energy demand is little over GNP per capita income while in developed countries it is not the case, said Bursa. He exemplified that if Pakistan wants to maintain 6 to 7 percent GNP rate then it would require 8 percent of energy. He said that NDTC would purchase the power generated form them.

Director General BOI, Arif Elahi said that Pakistan would generate 700 MW in coming five years through wind energy. Pakistan could produce 50 MW energy from the coastal belt of 750 kilometre if it invests in wind energy sector, he added.

He informed that as part of its first phase Zorlu Enerji Pakistan Limited (ZEPL) has commissioned one turbine with a capacity of 1.2 Mega Watt (MW) and the other four turbines would be commissioned by the end of December, 2008 hence providing 6 MW of energy for the first phase.

The second phase which includes installation of 29 turbines with a capacity of 44 MW is expected to be completed till December, 2009, he said. The power generated from the first phase would be evacuated to the Jhampir Grid Station by HESCO, he said. All the equipment for the first phase of 6 MW including the towers, rotors, transformers and other auxiliary equipment has been transported to the site, he said.

While commenting on the background of the company Elahi said that Zorlu Holding is one of the largest and leading groups in Turkey and it has been active in the energy sector through the nine companies of the Zorlu Energy Group since 1993. Despite global economic uncertainties/turnaround Pakistans economy has been able to attract a FDI of US $ 1.321 billion in the current fiscal year (July-October) reflecting investor confidence, said Elahi while commenting on the overall investment climate.

Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind