Persistent shortage of electricity has adversely affected the economic growth and sustainability of Pakistan’s industrial and social structure. The situation has left no option, but to tap all available domestic resources to overcome this national challenge -and renewable options have been one of them.As part of its vision to make Pakistan self-sufficient in energy production, one of Pakistan’s leading enterprises, the Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) ventured into the energy sector, by incorporating FFC Energy Limited, (FFCEL) on November 18, 2009. This venture has till date invested $134 million in this critical sector of the economy.FFC Energy Limited (FFCEL) is a special-purpose public limited company which has been established and incorporated under the Companies Ordinance 1984. It is a subsidiary of Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd (FFC). FFC stands among the largest producers of fertilisers in Pakistan, with 48pc of the urea market share in the country. FFC is also among the largest Tax contributors to the national exchequer.FFCEL has the unique distinction of developing Pakistan’s first 50-Megawatt wind power project at Jhampir, District Thatta, Sindh, within record timelines. “This project is designed to play a revolutionary role in developing Pakistan’s promising wind power sector; while also at the same time give ample opportunities for Pakistani engineers and technology experts to playa role in nation building,” said Brig ® Tariq Izaz, Project Director, who has been the driving force behind the success of this venture.The project entered into technical collaborations during February 2010, with Nordex, a technology leader from Germany and Descon Engineering Ltd., These partners provided technological assistance in Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC), along with Operations & Maintenance (O&M). Nordex is world renowned for manufacturing Wind-Turbines and has created over 4000 Wind Turbines, with a total rated output of 5720 MW, already operating in 34 countries.Tariff approval from NEPRA was granted to FFCEL in June 2011, making it Pakistan’s first wind power electricity generation company to achieve Financial-Close. This Fast-Track project shall provide cleaner and sustainable energy to reduce the circular debt issue, since no imported resources are required to run the project for its lifetime. This project has marked the beginning of an era of renewable energy in Pakistan as the national economy cannot afford the ever-increasing costs of imported fossil fuels for long. All civil, mechanical & electrical construction works, including erection of 33 Wind Turbines, have been completed. Descon’s workshop in Karachi manufactured 80% of these turbine towers, thus becoming the first local manufacturer of turbine towers in the country. The project is well poised to achieve Commercial Operation Date within scheduled timelines. The project, once operational will be Pakistan’s 1st ‘Complete Project’ of this scale, in the field of Grid-Connected renewable energy in general and Wind-Power in particular. FFC also plans to expand the project capacity to the level of 200 Mega Watts in future. Besides wind power, it also has the technological acumen to enter into solar energy, which has now become affordable with great potential to playa significant role in the days to come.The Chief Executive and Managing Director of FFC, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi visited FFC Wind Energy Farm at Jhimpir recently and was briefed on the progress of the endeavor. He expressed his confidence and delight by saying; “It is a matter of a ‘push button’ to allow the country’s first wind-power project, having the capacity to add 50 Mega Watts of electricity into the national grid, probably sometime in October, 2012. This project enjoys a special significance, especially at a time when affordable power is a much sought-after commodity in Pakistan”.FFCEL’s management also understands the plight and problems faced by the local population, due to lack of economic opportunities. As part of its long standing commitment to the underprivileged communities, FFC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, along with its partner NORDEX, has initiated a community uplift and support program worth US$ 100,000 for the year 2012 at Jhimpir and surrounding villages. Such programs have been actively deployed by FFC since 1982. This comprehensive CSR program primarily focuses on education, health care, clean drinking water, poverty alleviation, sports promotion, environmental protection, roads, disaster relief and rehabilitation for the deprived masses.