KARACHI: A stakeholder engagement workshop was held by Sindh energy department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program­me (UNDP) and the United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UN DESA) on Thursday to discuss the 500 MW Floating Solar Power Project at Keenjhar Lake in Thatta district.

The workshop, organised at a hotel in Karachi, was part of a broader series of initiatives aimed at encouraging private sector investments through feasibility studies, investor matchmaking and presentations at the SDGs Investment Fair, said a press release.

It brought together representatives from various government departments, including the public-private partnership unit and the departments of energy, irrigation, investment, agriculture and forests.

Mehboob Siyal, additional secretary of energy department, underscored the project’s importance in advancing the province’s renewable energy goals.

Ms Ammara Durrani, assistant resident representative at UNDP Pakistan, and Glenn Hodes, SDG Finance Specialist at UN DESA, provided context for the discussion and highlighted the crucial role of innovative financing approaches in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Representatives from the UNDP SDG Investment and Climate Finance Facility and Go Energy gave a presentation on a 500 MW floating solar power project. The presentation covered the project’s technical and financial parameters to fill any information gaps and establish a collaborative framework for developing its feasibility. Go Energy also highlighted the project’s key features, it said.

An open discussion followed, moderated by Hamid Rashid, climate finance expert at UNDP Pakistan and Mehfooz Qazi, director of Alternative Energy, Sindh.

Participants engaged in a dialogue on the project’s potential, challenges, and the next steps to mobilise private sector investment and drive economic growth in the province.

Ms Durrani reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting Sindh government’s energy initiatives and leveraging international partnerships to bring sustainable development projects to fruition.

The workshop marked a significant step in the government’s efforts to attract foreign investment and develop high-impact, SDG-aligned projects, she said.

The collaborative approach between the government, UNDP, and UN DESA set a strong foundation for future projects and underscored the importance of innovative solutions in addressing climate and energy challenges, she said.

In his concluding remarks, Mehfooz Qazi thanked the UNDP Pakistan for supporting the feasibility studies of this important project at Keenjhar Lake and assured of full support on behalf of the government to the project sponsors M/s Go Energy Pvt. Ltd.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2024