Page 14 - AsiaElec Week 10 2021

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generated by Balakot Hydropower Project by the United States Agency for International SOL AR
would be provided to local industries as well Development (USAID), improves Pakistan’s
as domestic consumers at relatively cheaper National Transmission and Despatch JA Solar plans 20-GW cell,
rates. Company’s (NTDC) ability to forecast power
The chief minister said that the KP requirements across the country. module production complex
government was taking steps to ensure It also allows Pakistan’s Central Power
optimum utilisation of the hydropower Purchasing Agency, Guarantee Ltd (CPPA-G), in China
potentials of the province with the aim to to set up an efficient, transparent, and
meet its energy requirements and strengthen trustworthy billing system for private China’s JA Solar has signed an investment
its economy. investors. framework agreement that calls for the
He added that various hydropower Eventually, this will enable the government construction of a 20-GW complex in Jiangsu
projects with a total capacity of generating 160 of Pakistan to buy power at competitive rates Province to manufacture cells and modules.
megawatts of power have been completed by from private companies and provide it to The solar products maker has entered
the PEDO so far, whereas work is in progress consumers at affordable rates. into the agreement with the government of
on various other schemes which would create “The launch of this system is an important Qidong City. The deal envisages building the
216 megawatts energy. milestone for the NTDC and the CPPA-G,” production hub in the Qidong Economic
said Julie Koenen, USAID mission director. Development Zone at a total cost of about
“This initiative facilitates the digitalisation CNY 10.2 billion ($1.57bn).
of Pakistan’s power sector and will also help The three-phase project is expected to be
MARKETS the government achieve its vision to start implemented within a period of four years.
a wholesale electricity market, which will Earlier this year, the company announced it
Pakistan to set up reduce electricity prices for consumers, and intends to execute a 20-GW expansion project
for ingots and mono wafers, and separately
provide incentives for businesses and industry
wholesale electricity to expand their operations.” build a 10-GW cell production facility and a
6-GW module assembly plant in Yangzhou.
“NTDC is committed to improving its
market operations, and SMS will take our forecasting,
data collection, and power management
Pakistan finally moves towards setting up operations to the next level,” NDTC Managing
the wholesale electricity market; following Director Dr Khawaja Riffat Hassan said.
digitising upstream energy sector with the In addition to the handover activity,
help of the United States of America. the event featured a graduation ceremony
This was made possible as the United States for 21 energy professionals of CPPA-G
Mission to Pakistan on Tuesday officially and NTDC who progressed from basic to
handed over an innovative new metering advanced training. The handover ceremony
system to the government of Pakistan to help was organised by the USAID’s Sustainable
network and market operators better manage Energy for Pakistan (SEP) project, a four-year
the national power grid. technical assistance initiative.
The Secure Metering System, developed

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 10 10•March•2021