The US has begun a $23.5 million four-year power sector reform initiative with Pakistan to address climate change and enhance the amount of green energy in the country’s total energy mix.
The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is partnering with the Pakistani government to launch a $23.5 million, four-year power sector improvement project to address climate change and increase the share of green energy in Pakistan’s energy mix, according to an official announcement made by the US Embassy here on Friday.
The project would also enhance the administration and operations of electricity transmission and distribution networks, boosting the financial viability, dependability, and affordability of Pakistan’s power system by providing technical support to the government and private sector.
At the inaugural event, USAID Mission Director Julie A. Koenen remarked, “The United States looks forward to extending our collaboration with Pakistan to establish a clean, efficient, and dependable energy generation sector, laying the framework for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
“Through this new effort, USAID will collaborate with Pakistan’s government to promote the country’s transition to a fully competitive wholesale electricity market.”
This would promote private sector engagement in an open and transparent manner, and will help us achieve our common energy reform goals,” she added.
The Private Power Infrastructure Board’s Managing Director, Shah Jahan Mirza, praised USAID for its strong partnership, innovation, and long-term cooperation in assisting Pakistan’s transition to clean energy, and said he looks forward to continuing the partnership to improve Pakistan’s power sector performance.
Building dams and transmission lines, reacting to humanitarian situations, and combating common concerns like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and water vulnerabilities have all been part of the US-Pakistan collaboration over the last 75 years.
To increase Pakistan’s energy supply, the US and Pakistan have built three dams – Gomal Zam dam in South Waziristan, Satpara dam in Gilgit Baltistan, and Golen Gol dam in Chitral, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding 143 megawatts of electricity to the national grid – and rehabilitated the Mangla and Tarbela dams and three thermal power plants, as well as connecting more than 860 megawatts of commercially.
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