Pakistan Will Vigorously Develop Renewable Energy

Pakistan's government recently announced plans to increase the share of electricity generated from renewable sources to 30% by 2030, up from 4% now.

SyedAqeelHussainJafry, policy Director of the Government's Alternative Energy Development Commission, said: "The new plan's target will be phased in, with renewable energy accounting for 20 per cent of Pakistan's electricity generation capacity by 2025. Areas of development will include wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, wave and biomass energy."

More than 30 wind and solar power plants are in operation in Pakistan, and more private investors are expected to invest in the sector in the future, according to NadeemBabar, chairman of the Working Group on Energy reform in Pakistan. "Existing renewable energy power projects are all financed by local and international Banks, multilateral institutions and export credit agencies. In the future, new projects will be funded in the same way."

ZeeshanAshfaq, a Pakistani solar and wind developer, predicts that international investors could pour as much as $15bn into Pakistan's renewable energy sector by 2030.

According to NadeemBabar, with the increase of hydropower capacity, the proportion of clean energy generation in Pakistan's electricity structure will reach 65% by 2030.