Jhimpir Power, Burj Capital’s first project in its 500 MW renewable asset platform in Pakistan, has now achieved commercial operations.

The plant has been inaugurated by Burj Capital, 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 50,000 MW of clean and affordable electricity.

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 people of Pakistan clean and cheap electricity.

Saad Zaman, Founder & Group CEO of Burj Capital, said: “Completing our first project and delivering power to the national grid is a proud moment indeed. This is only the start, however, we have a lot more in store for Pakistan. Given that wind and solar power stands as the cheapest, fastest deployment and cleanest source of electricity in the country, we are at the cusp of an energy revolution that will take Pakistan from being an energy-poor nation to an energy-rich one.”

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the US government’s development finance institution, is the sole debt provider to the project and has financed five projects in Pakistan, totaling about 250 MW, in the Gharo-Keti Bandar wind corridor.

Jhimpir Power selected GE Renewable Energy as the turbine supplier and operations and maintenance (O&M) contractor. The project has been built by Power China 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.

Government of Pakistan has tasked the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) to ensure five percent of total national power generation capacity to be generated through renewable energy technologies by the year 2030, following the US Agency for International Development and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that Pakistan has over 132 (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