ISLAMABAD - Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) has all set for formal ground breaking of the first ever Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) wind power project of 49.5 MW during up-coming month, which would further help the energy ridden-country to end public woes. The first ever, wind power project of 49.5 MW in Pakistan with sole financing of Pakistani banks having achieved major milestone is now all set for formal ground breaking in May 2011 after its financial close, which is to be announced shortly, sources said adding that the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project has already initiated construction work on site. They further told that this would be a landmark in wind sector of Pakistan achieved by FFC Energy Limited under the facilitation of Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB), based on signing of Energy Purchase Agreement on 5th April 2011 between M/s FFCEL and Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) and Implementation Agreement with AEDB in February 2011. Official sources in AEDB told TheNation on Thursday that it was a first ever Independent Power Project (IPP) of EPC wholly financed by Pakistani banks. They told that a German company Nordex was busy in locally manufacturing wind turbines while utilising local resources whose financing was made feasible by Pakistani banks. However, various manufacturers have showed keen interests for manufacturing the essential equipments and negotiations are in process. Over a question, officials disclosed that Vestas, Siemens, General Electric (GE) and few Chinese companies named as Gold Wind, Sinoville etc are also desperate to get approval for manufacturing. Ahmad Ahmadani