100-watt solar system for 1 mn families on cards: CM Sindh

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has unveiled plans to provide 100-watt solar systems to one million low-income families, addressing the escalating electricity bills that have caused widespread distress.

This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on the poor, offering them a sustainable and cost-effective energy solution. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari directed this measure, emphasizing the provincial government’s role in assisting those struggling with rising electricity costs, even though energy tariff regulation falls under federal jurisdiction.

During a meeting at the CM House, CM Shah discussed proposals for solarizing off-grid and on-grid low-income households. The meeting included key officials such as Minister for Energy Syed Nasir Shah, Minister for Agriculture Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Secretary for Energy Musadiq Khan, PSCM Agha Wasif, and Chairman P&D Najam Shah, among others.

Minister Energy Nasir Shah briefing the CM on the Benazir Solar program said that the survey of low-income families using 100 units per month comes to 1,976,500, including 1,054,000 of KE, 566,427 HESCO and 356,073 SEPCO. The CM was told that there were 2.6 million off-grid households in Sindh. At this, the CM said that 500,000 households (off-gird) may be provided Solar Home Systems (SHS) by providing them 100W panels with the capacity of three LED bulbs, 35W DC fan and six-hour Battery backup and mobile charging ports.

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To a question, Nasir Shah told the CM that each SMS would cost Rs55,000 if purchased in bulk. Another proposal minister energy Nasir Shah submitted to the CM was for microgrids. He said six micro-grids, each one of 75kW, may be established at the Divisional level to cover a cluster of 100 households. Those grids would provide 100kWH units per month.

The energy minister said that each grid would cost around Rs30 million. The CM directed the minister to get the feasibility study of the grid stations. The CM was told that around 300 land was required for a grid station at Sukkur for grid station, 230 acres in Hyderabad and 270 acres in K-Electric.

The third proposal, the minister presented was the establishment of three solar parks each one with a cumulative capacity of 350 MW.