Turkish company Zorlu has received the required licences from Pakistan to start two more solar projects. These power plants will produce 100 megawatts of power each. Both combined will boost the country’s power generation capabilities by 200 megawatts.
The Turkish firm signed the deal in February this year with the Punjab Government. The agreement was signed at the Çankaya Mansion between Binali Yıldırım, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, and Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Officials from both countries were present at the occasion. Olgun Zorlu, a Board Member of Zorlu Holding and Zorlu Energy, signed the contract.
This isn’t the first time Zorlu has been entrusted with a solar project in Pakistan. Back in January, Pakistani government asked the Turkish firm to work on the Quaid-e-Azam solar project worth 100 megawatts of electricity.
At the ceremony, Chairman Zorlu Holding said,
We are very pleased to grow our solar energy investments in Pakistan, it is the first overseas market for our solar energy investments. Our new investment will energize our 100 MW solar energy contract, which took place a few weeks after our application for the first and largest renewable energy application accepted by the Pakistani government in three years. With this investment, we plan to expand our Group’s commercial area to the region and reach our target growth as well as increase Turkey’s power in the region. In this regard, I wish both agreements bring benefit to both countries.
With the completion of the project expected within this year, a total of 300 megawatts will be added to Pakistan’s emerging renewable sources of energy.
This is an important project for Pakistan’s future as it requires minimal maintenance costs after installation unlike fuel based power plants which we currently rely on.
