ISLAMABAD - A German delegation consisting of leading solar energy producing companies on Thursday showed keen interest in establishing solar energy production systems to stabilize the industrial sector of Pakistan that could overcome the acute energy shortage in the country.
Representatives of four leading solar energy producing companies of Germany visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to provide some solutions to Pakistan’s energy sector. Delegation comprising Gerold Holsmolle, Christoph Buhler, Carsten Aschoff and Karl-H.Mockel, have shown keen interest in establishing their solar energy production systems to stabilize the industrial sector of Pakistan. The delegates said that Pakistan could avail German expertise for installation of renewable energy projects to overcome acute energy shortage.
They said that Pakistan should adopt energy efficiency solutions and energy conservation measures to save energy and reduce energy consumption bills. Solar energy projects were the need of time, which could serve in the uplift of country’s economy, they maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahfooz Elahi, former president ICCI, said solar energy has excellent potential in Pakistan that receives high levels of solar radiation throughout the year. He said that Pakistan is the 6th luckiest country in the world where sun-availability is up to 16 hours on average, which presents a huge scope for German investors to set up projects of producing alternate energy. He highlighted the due role of Alternative Energy Development Board and said that on the basis of public-private partnership, government has started village electrification program for social uplifting of remote areas.
Mahfooz Elahi was of the view that it has become essential in today’s changing scenario to look for alternative energy resources in manufacturing units to enhance productivity.
He said that the industrial and infrastructure development hinged upon energy and ever-growing energy needs of the country could only be fulfilled if the renewable energy programs were initiated throughout the country. Government must look towards establishing more solar power plants and tapping into other alternative energy resources for meeting energy demands, he emphasized.