Pakistan has ambitious plans to have 75 per cent of green energy by 2030, a top official said in Abu Dhabi.

Nadeem Babar, special assistant to the Prime Minister on the Petroleum Division, Pakistan, said that the government action has seen the country tackle issues of energy crisis.

"Shortage of energy in early 2000 was estimated to contribute to a loss of 3-4 per cent of the GDP. The government initiated programmes to expand the energy supplies. And we have completely changed the paradigm for energy with the present government. I have some numbers which may seem unbelievable today. By 2025, we will have 53 per cent green energy. By 2030, we will have 64 per cent green energy. Green means renewable, wind, solar, biomass and hydel. If I add nuclear to it, which is another 10 per cent, to get the non-fossil category, the number goes up to 75 per cent. We feel very comfortable with 2025 target," Babar said at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition Conference.

He mooted an industrial policy 'nexus' with energy policy to achieve supply-demand balance. "We have seen the economy being choked because of lack of supplies of energy."

Babar noted five pillars of paradigm shift in energy transformation - availability, affordability, sustainability (often heard), and two new ones - responsibility of use and converting brain power into machine power. "In Pakistan, we have launched two streams - one is to have huge increase in footprints of renewable and cleaner energy and at the same time we need to reinvigorate our gas industry. In addition to the renewables stream, we are opening our E&P sector big time. We are demolishing regulations, removing approvals and opening it up - launching round of 40 blocks in next 12 months. The first one will start next month."

Babar said that the ambitious targets of 64 per cent by 2025 are very 'real'.

"We have large footprint of hydel generation. If managed properly, it can be mid-merit rather than peaking. Of the 64 per cent target, half of it is hydel and half is wind and solar. Now what we are doing is working on hybrid solar and wind. When at a same site, we put solar and wind plant on combined basis, you reach 45 to 50 per cent. We have wide range of climate and this works for us."

Meanwhile, Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE's Minister of Energy and Industry, supported the use of cleaner forms of energy. "Even though we are the sixth largest reserve holder of oil and gas, our strategy in 2050 is calling for 50 per cent non-fossil contribution of energy sources. It will result in reducing CO2 emissions by 70 per cent."

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