The United States (US) announced to commence a four-year $23.5 million project in Pakistan to steer efficiency in the power sector.
The US government, through the USAID, is partnering with the Pakistani government to launch a four-year $23.5 million power sector improvement project to address climate change and increase the share of green energy in Pakistan’s energy mix.
Through technical assistance to the government and private sector, the project will also improve the management and operations of power transmission and distribution systems, increasing the financial viability, reliability, and affordability of Pakistan’s power system.
The project aims to increase the share of green energy in Pakistan’s energy mix, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Julie A Koenen said in a statement.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Koenon said, “The US looks forward to advancing the partnership with Pakistan to build a clean, efficient, and reliable electricity generation sector, laying a foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth. Through this new initiative, USAID will partner with the government of Pakistan to support the transition to a truly competitive wholesale power market.”
She further added, “This will increase private sector participation in an open and transparent manner and support our shared energy reform goals.”
Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Managing Director Shah Jahan Mirza praised USAID for its strong partnership, innovation and sustained cooperation in supporting Pakistan’s transition to clean energy.
He looked forward to continuing the partnership to improve Pakistan’s power sector performance.
The prolonged US-Pakistan partnership has witnessed the construction of various dams and transmission lines in the country besides responding to humanitarian emergencies and combatting shared challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and water vulnerabilities.
To expand Pakistan’s energy supply, the US and Pakistan have jointly built three dams – Gomal Zam Dam in South Waziristan, Satpara Dam in Gilgit Baltistan, and Golen Gol Hydropower Project in Chitral (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) – adding 143 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Both countries have rehabilitated the Mangla and Tarbela dams, three thermal power plants and connected more than 860 megawatts of commercially-funded wind and solar projects to the national grid.
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