Government Decides to Shift High-Loss Power Feeders to Solar Energy
Islamabad: The federal government has decided to convert high-loss electricity feeders to solar energy in a bid to ensure uninterrupted power supply in remote areas and reduce losses in the power sector.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review ongoing power sector reforms and the solarization of electricity supply in far-flung regions. The prime minister directed that loss-making feeders be shifted to solar power with the cooperation of local communities and provincial governments.
He said the move would help reduce losses incurred by high-loss feeders while ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply in those areas. The prime minister also instructed that pilot projects be launched immediately on loss-making feeders of PESCO and QESCO.
To ensure the success of the pilot projects, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need for consultation with elected representatives and active participation of local communities.
During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given on the proposed conversion of loss-making feeders of PESCO and QESCO to solar energy. Officials informed that shifting these feeders to solar power would create environmentally friendly, low-cost, and sustainable microgrids for local populations, with local communities as well as provincial and federal governments acting as partners in the project.
It was further shared that the initiative would not only generate low-cost electricity but also significantly reduce future losses of power distribution companies.
The prime minister granted in-principle approval to the project and directed that work on pilot projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan begin immediately.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani, the chief secretaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and other senior government officials.
