Dubai-Based Burj Capital’s First Wind Power Project Starts Commercial Operations in Pakistan

Jhimpir Power, Burj Capital’s first project in its 500MW renewable asset platform in Pakistan, has now started commercial operations. The plant was inaugurated yesterday by Burj Capital. The company is a Dubai based investment firm engaged in renewable power development focusing on both utility-scale and distributed generation strategies. The wind project is located in Jhimpir, in the Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor in Southeast Pakistan, which is a high-quality wind resource capable of generating over 50,000MW of clean and affordable electricity. The Jhimpir wind corridor coupled with solar power can be further developed into a resource of national importance, able to reduce the country’s reliance on expensive imported fuels and provide the people of Pakistan clean and cheap electricity. ALSO READ Hawa Wind Power Project Adds 50 MW Electricity to the National Grid Saad Zaman, Founder & Group CEO of Burj Capital, said: The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US Government’s development finance institution, is the sole debt provider to the project and has financed 5 projects in Pakistan, totaling about 250MW, in the Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor. OPIC President and Chief Executive Officer Ray W. Washburne said, Jhimpir Power selected GE Renewable Energy as the turbine supplier and operations and maintenance (O&M) contractor. The project has been built by PowerChina Huadong as the EPC contractor. Jhimpir Power is the fifth project in Pakistan to feature GE’s advanced wind turbines. As part of its operations and maintenance services, GE is also offering the project its technical know-how and smart maintenance and repair services prioritizing plant performance. Dr. Manar Al Moneef, General Manager of GE Renewable Energy in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said: Sarim Sheikh, President & CEO of GE Pakistan, Iran & Afghanistan, added: The Government of Pakistan has tasked the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) to ensure 5 percent of total national power generation capacity is generated through renewable energy technologies by the year 2030, following the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that Pakistan has over 132 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy capacity and has to date exploited only 1% of this. Aside from utility-scale power plants, Burj Capital is also entering the private power space in Pakistan taking advantage of falling cost of technologies like PV solar and targeting the unmet power needs of consumers.