KfW Development Bank, Germany and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) inaugurated state of art Solar Energy Mini-Grids Projects completed recently in district Swabi and district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively.
The inauguration ceremonies were attended by Mr. Michael Gruber, Division Head of Peace and Governance Program-KfW Frankfurt, Maja Bott, Principal Project Manager, Peace Governance Project, KfW Germany, Thilo Heighberger, Technical Expert, KfW Germany, Shaukat Ali, Coordinator Governance and peace, KfW Pakistan, Nafees Ahmad Khan, General Manager PPAF, senior officials from PPAF and implementing partners namely National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Community Motivation and Development Organisation (CMDO). A large number of community members participated in inaugurations of these solar energy mini-grids.
PPAF is implementing hydropower & renewable energy (HRE) projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the financial support of the Government of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW).The mini-grid solar systems, implemented in small villages of districts Swabi and Karak, have a total capacity of 196kW and 185kW and jointly provide electricity from indigenous and clean energy resource to about 434 households within these districts. It is pertinent to mention here that 24 Solar mini-grid systems with total capacity of 119 kW in off-grid villages of Lakki Marwat have already been completed.
While inaugurating the Solar Mini-Grid Project in village Sarobi Ida Khel in union council PalosaSar, district Karak, Michael Gruber, Division Head of Peace and Governance Program-KfW Frankfurt appreciated the efforts of PPAF and the implementing partners NRSP and CMDO for implementing these renewable energy projects in difficult and inaccessible terrains.
He stated, “These community-managed solar lighting systems will not only meet basic lighting requirements but will also be available for village level businesses and local enterprises.