ISLAMABAD, May 13: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday promulgated an ordinance for the establishment of an Alternative Energy Development Board for alternative or renewable energy for sustainable economic growth in the country.

Known as the Alternative Energy Development Board Ordinance 2006, the board will be tasked to develop a national strategy, policies and plans for utilisation of alternative and renewable energy resources to achieve the targets approved by the federal government.

The head office of the 14-member board will be in Islamabad.

Secretaries of finance division, ministry of water and power, planning and development, petroleum and natural resources, science and technology, environment ministry, additional secretary cabinet division will be members of the board in addition to six members from the private sector.

The board will act as a forum for evaluating, monitoring and certification of alternative or renewable energy projects and products besides acting as a coordinating agency for commercial application of alternative or renewable technology.

It will act as a one-window facility for establishing, promoting and facilitating alternative or renewable energy projects based on wind, solar and , tidal energy, micro-hydel, fuel cells, biogas and biomass. It will also assist the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) in tariff petitions.