No loadshedding after December 31

ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday said two Independent Power
Producers with a combine production capacity of 450 MW have started test operations.
Talking to journalists here after chairing the 18th Board meeting of Alternative Energy Development Board
(AEDB), the minister reiterated governments commitment to end load shedding in the country by Dec 31 this
year.
He said besides ending load shedding the government was making all out efforts to provide affordable, clean
and environment friendly energy to people.
He said the government would provide all out support to public and private sectors organizations for the
development of alternative energy in the country.
He said renewable energy has a critical role to play in meeting the growing energy needs. He added it was vital
to balance the countrys energy mix to address the problem of power shortages.
He said renewable energy technologies would be an essential element in Pakistans energy future by making
major contributions to the diversity and security of energy supply besides economic development, he added.
Pakistan has a vast array of renewable energy sources. We are turning that into a reality with a progressive and
distinct approach to make renewables a driver of sustainable economic growth Pervez Ashraf said. He said it
is vital to maximize countrys natural resources to help in the fight against climate change and reduce reliance on
volatile foreign fossil fuel. He said that the AEDB Board now has a greater responsibility to shoulder to help
develop all available alternative energy resources in the country.
Earlier, the meeting was informed that AEDB has been assigned by the ECC of the Federal Cabinet to
implement the National Bio-diesel program. The meeting was informed that several private sector organizations
have shown interest in bio-diesel production and have sought land for plantations.
It was apprised that bio-diesel can be extracted from Sunflower, Canola, Mustard, Rape seed, Soy-bean,
Pongame (Sukh- Chaien), Castor Seed and Jatropha, adding, board has already started collaboration with
PSO and has facilitated it in establishing its Jatropha nursery and production of bio-diesel on small scale.
It was apprised that a bio-diesel advisory committee has been constituted to steer the national program and a
national seminar on bio-diesel is being held in Islamabad on July 4 to discuss various issues related to
implementation of the program.
The recommendations of the seminar would be used in developing the policy and regulatory framework for
bio-diesel.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Water and Power Shahid Rafi, CEO AEDB Arif Alauddin, Javed Ali
Khan, Arshad Mehmood Malik, Hilal A. Raza, AVM Tariq Mateen, Mansoor Elahi and Dr Atta M. Panhwar.