JCC on ‘green CPEC’ suggested

Islamabad: There should be a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) working on greening of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a speaker suggested at a public-private dialogue here.

The dialogue was held on ‘Prospects of clean energy transition along the coastal areas of Karachi: Key challenges, development strategies, and the way forward.’ Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organized the event, said a news release.

Executive Director, Pakistan-China Institute, Islamabad, Mustafa Haider Sayed, emphasized that the national grid infrastructure needs to be upgraded before utilizing the potential of renewable energy.

“There should be a Joint Coordination Committee working on greening of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” he said.

To ensure the compliance of international standards, capacity building of enforcing agencies such as Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) need to take place, he added.

Chairman, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Tauseef H Farooqi said that the Renewable Energy (RE) portfolio of Pakistan can be improved by including Hydro power generation in renewable energy mix.

The potential of RE in coastal areas of Karachi is lower as compared to Jhimpir and Gharo and adding RE projects based on lesser irradiance or wind speed will make them more expensive to be added to the national grid, he said.

Farooqi said NEPRA was trying to de-regulate the market and investor friendly wheeling. “NEPRA is trying to ensure ease of doing business for investors and exploring indigenous solutions for the energy in Pakistan,” he added.