Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Sheikh has written to Federal Energy
Minister Khurram Dastgir, expressing concerns that the Alternative Energy
Development Board (AEDB) has chosen only one solar power project out of 25 in
Sindh for competitive bidding. Sheikh emphasized that it would be unjust to
ignore Sindh’s projects, which have huge potential and numerous valid LOIs
holders, in this competitive bidding process.
The Sindh energy department has requested that the complete quantum of 1000-
MW each for wind and solar projects as approved in IGCEP of 2021 should be
considered for bidding, and all wind and solar projects of the government of Sindh
should be included for fair competition.
The IGCEP 2021, approved by Nepra, allocated a quantum of 1000-MW each for
induction of wind and solar power capacity through competitive bidding by the
year 2024. However, AEDB has selected only a small portion of the available wind
and solar power projects in Sindh for competitive bidding, without specifying
clear criteria.
Minister Sheikh highlighted that there is a huge potential for alternative and
renewable energy resources in Sindh Province, and a minor upgradation or
reinforcement of the transmission and distribution network would enable the
province to evacuate up to 6,765-MW till 2025 and further 10,035-MW till 2030
from wind and solar projects.
