ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan and European Union (EU) Wednesday agreed for cooperation in energy conservation and efficiency and the Power Division would send a high level delegation to EU to participate in a workshop with European expert and professional which would be comprised government officials and experts from private sector.
The decision was made in a meeting between the Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari and the EU ambassador Jean Fancois Cautain.
It was further agreed that the European Investment Bank would be invited to the subject workshop to explore different option relating to financing the energy related projects in Pakistan.
Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari while thanking the EU ambassador for the hosting of workshop on promotion of energy efficiency and energy conservation said after having successfully bridging the demand and supply gape, now it was of utmost importance that the consumers should be educated on usage of electricity.
The education would not only save money of the consumers but also help in efficient utilization of the existing generation capacity as one megawatt saved was far better than one megawatt generated, he added.
Awais Leghari also invited the European Investment Bank and other EU potential assistance partners toward assisting in establishment of Pakistan’s First Renewable Energy Institute.
The minister said he was meeting the Higher Education Commission chairman for identification of suitable university in Pakistan for establishment of the institute.
The minister also proposed that both the Power Division and EU embassy to appoint focal persons to frequently interact on matters relating to the energy cooperation between the two sides. The EU ambassador also agreed to the proposal.
The federal minister also highlighted salient features of the government plan to solarize some 30,000 tube well in Balochistan and also invited the EU to take part in the process.
Jean Fancois Cautain thanked the federal minister for the warm welcome accorded to him. He said the European Investment Bank was keenly observing the fast expanding power sector in Pakistan.
The EU ambassador said the bank would consider option of assisting in solarization of tube wells in Balochistan.
The envoy said EU was already working closely with government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on a number of renewable energy projects most of which were hydel. He assured the minister that the EU would continue to provide assistance to Pakistan in the energy sector.
