Karachi

Engro Energy Limited (EEL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) and the Directorate of Alternate Energy (DAE), to establish a renewable energy park at Jhimpir in Thatta district that will provide electricity to industry at Port-Qasim and Dhabeji.

Under the terms of the MoU, Engro will be responsible to build the first hybrid solar PV and Wind Park in the country whereas STDC and DAE will be responsible for laying the transmission network and facilitate the provision of required land for the project, respectively.

The MoU jointly spearheaded by the Government of Sindh was witnessed by Provincial Minister for Energy, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, Ghias Khan, President Engro Corporation; Ahsan Zafar Syed, CEO Engro Energy, Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, CEO STDC and others.

The MoU was signed by Shahab Qader – CEO Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited (EPQL), Imtiaz Ali Shah – Director DAE and Muhammad Saleem Shaikh – CEO STDC.

The investment for development of this renewable hybrid wind and solar PV Park in Jhimpir wind corridor is inspired by Engro’s vision to provide economical and reliable power to the industrial cluster of Sindh. The initiative is expected to not only reduce the electricity cost of industrial consumers but also help the Government deliver on its commitment of increasing share of RE in the energy mix to 30% by 2030.

The Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has pledged complete support for this Renewable Energy Park and stated that: “The People’s government has always strived to work on meaningful projects that benefit the common people and the industry. Our robust energy-focused plans, including this RE Park venture is expected to deliver tremendous socio-economic benefits by elevating the stature of the Sindh Province as the industrial & renewable energy hub of Pakistan.”

Provincial Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh appreciated Engro’s trust in the efforts of the Government of Sindh for creating a business-friendly environment and said that: “We are striving to turn Sindh into an energy-abundant province using our indigenous and natural resources. Our success with the Thar Coal project is in line with BB Shaheed’s vision and now the Government of Sindh is focused on developing its renewable energy resources to provide low-cost energy to our industries.”

Speaking on the occasion, President of Engro Corporation Ghias Khan and CEO of Engro Energy Limited Ahsan Zafar Syed discussed the tremendous potential of this project and said, “In the first phase of the project Engro plans to provide upto 400MW of electricity by early 2024 with the potential to increase this generation to 1GW by end of 2029. The 1.2 billion units of Renewable based electricity, generated in this strategic-facility during the first phase will enable import-substitution worth Rs.13 billion per annum. It will also make major contributions towards environmental sustainability, by reducing the CO2 emissions by around 400+ Kilo Tons per annum, which is equivalent to planting 20 million trees.” (PR)

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Thar would change Pakistan and Pakistan would surely change the entire world because of its rich natural resources – Consul General Li Bijian  

Envoy inaugurates 3-day ‘Colors of Thar Festival’ organized in Mithi jointly by SECMC, Thar Foundation and other companies

By GR Junejo

Mithi, Tharparkar: The Chinese Consul General in Karachi, Mr. Li Bijian has said that Thar had a great investment potential that would not only change Pakistan but would surely change the entire world for its rich natural resources and the hardworking and peaceful people.

He was addressing a huge gathering at 3-day ‘Colors of Thar Festival’ which started here on Friday. The festival organized by the District Administration in collaboration with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, Thar Foundation, Hubco, Sino Sindh Resources, Shanghai Electric and some other organizations under the aegis of “Thar will change Pakistan”.

On the very first day of the colorful festival, various events were organized to entertain several hundred participants, who had thronged the town to witness the mega event.

Chinese Consul General Mr. Li Bijian attended some sessions of the festival. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Li said that Thar would change Pakistan and Pakistan would surely change the entire world for its rich natural resources and hardworking and peaceful people. “Under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor Projects (EPEC), we have successfully completed phase one and now entering the second phase,” he said.

Chinese envoy said mining and power projects in Thar were moving very smoothly and had created thousands of job opportunities for the local people. “Thar is a beautiful place, and it has tremendous investment potential in all spheres. Let us work together to make Thar more beautiful and much developed,” he said.

Mr. Li said that Pakistan and China had always had a great bond of friendship and the CPEC projects had laid the strong foundations of prosperity and progress for both the great nations of the world.

He said that Chinese people were busy with the mega projects and they all wanted prosperous, strong and stable Pakistan. “I am very glad to see the beautiful culture and customs of Thar Desert during the festival,” he said and added that there was still need to further promote such rich culture by organizing such events.

“I am very happy to be among the local people during this beautiful colorful event,” he said and added that people of China also loved such culture and traditions.”

Chinese Consul General said that the coal reserves in Thar and the subsequent power generation would also change the density of the people of Thar.

Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani along with MPA Qsim Siraj Soomro, MPA Faqeer Mohammad Bilalani, DC Tharparkar Mohammad Nawaz Soho and officials of the sponsors of the mega festival attended the cultural festival.

Dr. Malani speaking to the media persons during his visits to different stalls lauded the efforts of the organizers of the mega event and said that such events would not only promote and project the culture, traditions, music, art and various other aspects of the desert district but also inculcate trends of the competition especially among the students of the district. “We are trying our best to give exposure to the talent of Thar and an opportunity to people from other regions to come and see the various other hidden aspects”, he said.

Dr. Malani added that it was beyond any doubt that Thar was all set to change Pakistan but added that it was also the time to overhaul the infrastructure of the entire desert district by providing all basic amenities of life to all the desert dwellers. He said that it was the dream of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to complete the mega power projects by utilizing the coal reserves of Thar and said PPP government under the dynamic leadership of Bilawal Zardari and the supervision of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah made it possible much before the stipulated time.

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Now 26 Thari women drivers are full time employees in Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company project

By GR Junejo

Islamkot, Tharparkar Sindh: Six more Thari women have joined the workforce as dump truck drivers after successfully completing rigorous training of six months at Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company’s project at Thar Coal Block-2.

Now 26 Thari women drivers are full time employees in Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company project. With induction of these talented and hardworking Thari women, the Company’s morning shift of transporting coal from mine to power plant has all women drivers, which is an inspiring milestone for company.

“Thar Foundation team is continuously striving to increase number of women in our projects,” a Thar Foundation press release said on Thursday.

The Women Dump Truck Driver Program is an acclaimed and breakthrough project that is empowering females in the remote region of Tharparkar. Through the Women Dump Truck Driving Program, the Foundation aims to provide rural females of Tharparkar an opportunity to broaden their livelihood by completing a training course to learn how to drive a dump truck in the Thar coal projects.

Through the program the Foundation aims to establish new generation of empowered females who have access to better socio-economic opportunities, financial inclusion and agency in an area that has historically been notorious for ranking low on major Human Development Indices.

Thar Foundation’s initiatives on women empowerment in Thar have been recognized by The Professionals Network and selected Thar Foundation for its prestigious CSR Award under this category. The award was received by Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi, CEO Thar Foundation in a ceremony held in Karachi. Thar Foundation has trained and recruited a number of women to operate RO Plants, drive heavy dump trucks, teach in Thar Foundation schools and establish small businesses under livelihood grants program. More women will be part of project in 2021.

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Watch a video on Thari Women Dump Truck Drivers

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