Chinese firm to set up $3bn ‘solar fund’
ISLAMABAD: A Chinese solar enterprise has said it is interested to set up a “special solar fund” in China to raise $3 billion to support Pakistan to utilise solar energy resources in the country to overcome the energy crisis.
Lightening Africa International is capable of setting up a solar power plant of 1000MW in six to eight months in Pakistan, President Byron Shi Min Chen told Chairman of Board of Investment Mohammad Zubair in a meeting on Monday. Byron said the company can produce 50MW to 100MW solar energy only in 120 days. However, he said the tariff should be decided even before inviting the Chinese investors to the country in the power sector.
He told Zubair that the enterprise is offering solutions to energy crises through the solar system. The company can provide the off-grid solar systems immediately since these ready-to-use systems can be installed to meet the consumers’ power need.
For domestic systems, the company may also have liaison with the distribution networks through banks or the dominating relevant companies, selling the solar products.
The BoI chairman told Byron that energy policy of Pakistan also focuses on alternate energy sources, including solar energy.
He explained the potential of solar energy in Balochistan, Sindh, southern Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.