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Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Lit by the sun: How solar power is transforming lives along Pakistan's southern coast
SUJAWAL, Sindh: Holding a battery in one hand and an LED light in the other, Abdul Ghani waded through the salty waters of the Arabian Sea to reach his small wooden boat. It was just past sunset, the sky dimming fast, but Ghani had no fear as he had light. Ghani is one of hundreds of Pakistani coastal residents who have benefited from a green energy initiative under the World Bank-backed Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), a multi-component program that aims to bring sustainable power to over 1.2 million of the southern province's poorest and most energy-deprived people. While torches don't offer adequate visibility in the vast seascape, and boat generators scare fish away when powered on, the battery-powered LED lights from the home energy system have proven to be an unexpected boon for nighttime fishing for residents like Ghani. 'Earlier, I couldn't catch any fish, but now when I go fishing using these lights, by the grace of God, I catch good fish,' the 45-year-old fisherman from Karo Chan, a coastal village in Sujawal district located in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, told Arab News. 'This helps me support my children and manage our livelihood.' The project targets people either without any electricity or facing power cuts, identified through Pakistan's national poverty scorecard, a data-driven assessment tool used to identify and prioritize assistance for low-income households. 'Each family has a solar system with fans, three LED light bulbs, mobile charging facility, along with a charge controller and a battery package,' Mehfooz Ahmed Qazi, the project director, told Arab News. 'All these cost Rs6,000 ($21), ten percent of the actual price, to instill a sense of ownership in the users.' Qazi said the project, launched in October 2019 and set to be completed in July 2025, had four components: a 400-megawatt solar power initiative for grid integration, rooftop solar systems for public sector buildings including 34 district headquarter hospitals, off-grid solar home systems for poor households and the establishment of solar equipment standardization laboratories at NED University in Karachi and Mehran University in Jamshoro. The key objective of the project is to promote the potential of green energy across the province. Out of the 400 megawatts planned for grid integration, 270 megawatts will be added to the system of K-Electric — serving over 3.4 million customers in Karachi and surrounding areas in Sindh and Balochistan — not only increasing the share of green power but also helping reduce electricity tariffs for residents of Karachi. By the end of the project, 34 megawatts of rooftop solar installations will be set up on buildings across the province, while 200,000 solar home systems will be distributed, benefiting 1.2 million families. Of these, 50,000 families in five coastal districts, including Sujawal, will receive solar home systems under the third component of the project that started in February this year. For families like Ghani's, the change has been immediate and life changing. 'I turn on three lights,' he explained. 'When we turn on the lights, small fish come. Seeing the small fish, the big ones also come. Where I place my net, both big and small fish come into it.' Ghani also uses the system at home once he returns from the sea. His wife, Kulsoom, said life, was once defined by heat, insects and fear of the dark, had now changed. 'Previously, there used to be complete darkness,' she said. 'The children would be distressed. We didn't even have a fan. It used to be extremely hot, and we would suffer.' Like many women in rural Sindh, Kulsoom's day revolves around managing the household and caring for her children. Now, her nights are more peaceful. 'Now that we have solar [system], we are very happy, and the children sleep peacefully,' she said. 'COMPLETE DARKNESS' In village Qaboolpur in the nearby Tando Muhammad Khan district, Naeema Gul, 47, had similar story. Her husband, Gul Bahar, is deaf and mute. They have six children, one of whom has polio. 'We didn't have electricity,' Gul said. 'We used hand fans. It would get extremely hot, and there were always mosquitoes … Now, thank God, we have received solar energy. Earlier, our home used to be in complete darkness. Now we have light.' Gul uses the fan provided with the solar system during peak summer heat, and the LED lights allow her to do embroidery on traditional ralli quilts, colorful patchwork textiles made by rural women in the province. She also uses the light to recite the Holy Qur'an at night. Her disabled son, Gulzar, a fifth grader, has also resumed his studies. 'After receiving the solar panel, I can study and write with ease,' he said. For women like Changi Rind, a widow with 10 children and dozens of grandchildren living in remote Jan Muhammad Jatt village of Sujawal, the biggest relief has been security. 'Previously, thieves used to come, but now, because of the light, they stay away,' she said. 'At night, one person had to stay awake. There was no light in the wilderness, only darkness.' Back in Karo Chan, as night fell, Ghani's returned on his boat with a modest catch, unpacked the system and handed it over to Kulsoom. With a fan whirring in the corner and her children sitting under LED lights, she reflected on how far the community had come: 'Where there was once darkness, solar [system] has brought light to our home and our lives as well.'
Fast Company
30-05-2025
- Health
- Fast Company
A gas company wants to expand a pipeline in the south—but it would sharply increase air pollution in North Carolina towns
Two compressor stations along Transco's natural gas pipeline in North Carolina would emit more than 935,000 tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases each year, state records show. The expansion would also contaminate nearby communities with harmful air pollutants up to 350% over current levels. Transco, a division of the Houston-based group Williams, plans to increase the horsepower at the existing compressor stations in Lexington, in Davidson County, and in Mooresville, in Iredell County. The stations would accommodate the company's Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP), a pipeline expansion that traverses five states: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Compressor stations use high pressure to force gas through a pipeline; they are located every 50 to 60 miles along a route. They routinely leak methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, and other pollutants through valves, flanges and other connectors. The gas is also sometimes intentionally released directly into the atmosphere, a practice called venting, and sometimes the gas is flared, or burned off, during maintenance, shutdowns and startups. Venting is worse for the climate, while flaring produces more harmful air pollution. Each compressor station would be powered by natural gas, according to Transco's recent air permit applications to the N.C. Division of Air Quality. Division officials are reviewing the applications and will accept public comment after the evaluations are complete. Meanwhile, environmental advocates are asking local government officials to oppose Transco's entire natural gas expansion. Transco did not respond to an email requesting comment on the air permit applications. With increased horsepower comes increased pollution. At the Lexington station, concentrations of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and hazardous air pollutants, such as cancer-causing formaldehyde, would increase over current levels, by between 175% and 350%, state records show. Residents in Lexington and Mooresville 'are already burdened by decades of air pollution from existing Transco infrastructure and deserve to breathe clean air,' said Juhi Modi, North Carolina field coordinator at Appalachian Voices. 'NCDEQ has the power to defend against Transco's proposal to emit more health-compromising pollution into our communities.' EPA data show Davidson County is already afflicted by six types of air pollutants regulated under National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Davidson County is in compliance with the air quality standards, according to state officials, but they apply to large areas, like a county, and 'aren't necessarily going to be reflective of the reality on the ground for the people who live around these compressor stations,' said Deirdre Dlugoleski, a former associate attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, now with Defenders of Wildlife. 'Compliance with the NAAQS isn't enough to ensure that environmental justice communities close to these sites won't be harmed.' Neighborhoods within a mile radius of the Lexington compressor station rank among the highest in the state in terms of exposure to very fine particulate matter (known as PM 2.5), ozone, and toxic releases to the air, according to the EPA's EJ Screen. Nearly half of the 800 residents in the affected area are low-income. The potential risks to public safety and the environment prompted the Midway Town Council, by a 4-1 vote, to formally oppose SSEP and the compressor station in Lexington, about 10 miles south of Midway. Davidson County already has 176 miles of natural gas and liquid petroleum pipelines within its boundaries. Midway officials cited the 'negative impacts on air and water quality, residents' health and property values,' in their May 5 resolution, filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC. Town officials asked FERC to consider a 'no-build option' and, in the event the pipeline is expanded, to require the compressor stations to use the best available control technology to reduce emissions. At the Mooresville station, Transco's air permit application shows the increases would range from 20% to 37% over current emissions levels, depending on the pollutant. Like their Lexington counterparts, people living within a mile of the station are exposed to some of the highest levels of PM 2.5, ozone, toxic air releases and diesel pollution. These neighborhoods also flank Interstate 77, one of the main arteries into Charlotte. Both stations would emit toxic air pollutants acrolein, benzene, and formaldehyde at high rates. In Lexington, benzene exceeds federal hourly emission rates by 100 times; in Mooresville, the figure is 61 times. These rates trigger a requirement for the company to conduct air dispersion modeling to measure contaminant levels, if they move off site and how far. 'This proposed massive methane gas project would add more pollution and health risks to North Carolina communities already struggling with poor air quality, compared to the rest of the state,' said Caroline Hansley, campaign organizing strategist at Sierra Club. 'NCDEQ must exercise its authority to protect North Carolinians and deny the permit for this unneeded, dirty, and dangerous project.' More Demand From Data Centers In North Carolina, the SSEP includes the Eden Loop, 4.4 miles in Rockingham County, where the pipeline enters the state from Virginia. The Salem Loop, also part of SSEP, is longer, running roughly 24 miles through Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties. The SSEP is one of three major pipeline projects in North Carolina. MVP Southgate is proposed for Rockingham County, where it would tie into the T-15, a pipeline which would run east to Duke Energy's new natural gas plants in Person County. All of these projects are estimated to begin operating within the next three to five years, although they often run behind schedule because of permitting issues, litigation or construction delays. There is still a vacancy on the FERC commission, which could also cause backlogs. Transco officials say the project is necessary to accommodate increased energy demand from data centers. Some energy analysts, like Tyler Norris of Duke University, though, counter that load flexibility could preclude the need for more generation and transmission. Environmental advocates argue that energy companies are financially incentivized to build pipelines. From 2018 to 2023, Transco's average return on equity—earnings—was 17%, according to the National Gas Supply Association. Earlier this spring, Transco updated its project filings with FERC, which reflected minor adjustments to the proposed route. Maps show hundreds of homes and businesses, schools, day cares, even parks and recreational centers within the pipeline's 1,114-foot 'high consequence area.' Also known as the blast zone, these areas are where the force of an explosion could kill or injure people, as well as damage or destroy property. The zone is based on the diameter of the pipeline—SSEP is 42 inches—and its maximum allowable pressure. Within these areas, there are different classifications of risk, depending on population density and the number of vulnerable people who couldn't quickly evacuate. Some homes lie as close as 20 feet from the center of the pipeline, according to Transco's filings with FERC. The pipeline skirts churches; the Oak Ridge Weekday School; a child care center in Guilford County; the VA Medical Center in Kernersville; and U.S. Highway 52, a major thoroughfare. It would burrow under three acres of Triad Park, a 6,000-acre recreational area that straddles Guilford and Forsyth counties. Farther south in Davidson County, Wallburg Elementary School enrolls more than 720 students in pre-K through Grade 5. It is less than a quarter mile from the pipeline and within the blast zone, as is the Wallburg Recreational Center across the street. In a recent presentation to Guilford County Commissioners, Transco officials emphasized that 'safety is the highest priority.' The company continuously monitors its pipelines and frequently inspects them, officials said, and uses pressure and temperature sensors to warn of potential problems. Previous studies of pipeline accidents in Kentucky, Virginia, and New Mexico have shown that blast zones extend farther than originally calculated, according to the Pipeline Safety Trust, a nonprofit based in Washington state. The trust raised safety concerns about the SSEP in its recent comments to FERC. The SSEP route already contains up to four other pipelines of different types, and FERC should calculate the blast to reflect those co-locations, wrote Erin Sutherland, the trust's policy and program director, and attorney. 'This is a serious environmental and public health danger that FERC should consider.' Even routine construction will affect communities along the route. 'There's a huge gap that is going to fall on local municipalities,' Hansley said. 'People's wells could be blasted and impacted in Oak Ridge and other places. The roads could see massive traffic increases from heavy loads, get damaged and then who would end up paying for it?'
Business Recorder
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Solar energy and housing projects: Panel assails Sindh govt for ‘mismanagement'
ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel, Wednesday, slamming Sindh government for mismanagement in solar energy and housing projects undertaken for the 2022 flood victims has stressed the need for transparency and accountability. The Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs' meeting chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, while reviewing the Sindh Solar Energy Project expressed serious concerns and strongly criticised the handling of major public welfare projects, including the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), housing schemes under foreign funding, and multiple transmission and infrastructure projects. The committee directed that all requested documents, records, and clarifications be submitted at the next scheduled meeting. The committee took up the matter of the Sindh Solar Energy Project, under which solar systems are being distributed to households consuming less than 100 units of electricity. Officials revealed that 23,000 solar systems have already been distributed and the government plans to distribute 250,000 systems. Committee members questioned why an NGO was hired directly without tendering and why Rs6,000 was collected from already subsidised households receiving support under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), only to be handed over to an NGO. One senator argued that it would have been better to subsidise the full cost rather than burden the poorest users. During the briefing, officials from the Sindh Solar Energy Project said the solar systems were intended for domestic users consuming less than 100 units of electricity. However, it was revealed that households consuming between 0 and 20 units were being excluded from the scheme because they could not afford the Rs6,000 payment. Senators expressed outrage over this exclusion and the unexplained role of NGOs. Another senator said it appeared the scheme was not delivering its intended benefits. The committee also questioned the integrity of the bidding process, where 18 companies participated but only three were awarded contracts, including one Chinese supplier. The government aimed to procure 200,000 solar systems, but officials confirmed that only 23,000 had been distributed so far. The chairman committee demanded a full cost breakdown of the Rs31,083 per solar unit being quoted, pointing out that the actual base cost was around Rs21,000, with companies adding Rs8,000 without adequate explanation. The committee voiced alarm over inflated and potentially fraudulent beneficiary lists under BISP, where up to 22 names were registered from a single household. The chairman instructed the Economic Affairs Division to write to the chief secretary of Sindh to tell him that the beneficiary lists were flawed. The chairman called for solar systems to be delivered only to truly deserving individuals. The chairman committee expressing severe dissatisfaction over the lack of transparency and clarity presented by the officials asked the officials to provide full details to the committee. He criticised the project's implementation, stating, 'You are not giving a break-up of solar. The advertisements are running as if Sindh has been turned into Switzerland'. The committee was also pointed out that 10 percent of the charges were paid to NGOs instead of two per cent normal consultancy rates paid in projects of other departments. The committee recommended PD, SSEP to provide the break-up of local customs, taxes and duties mentioned as Rs16,800 and Rs31,483.20 as Solar Home system in Solar Home System kit. The committee also recommended Project Director, SSEP to obtain quotations for the solar system items from Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar and submit them to the committee. While reviewing housing projects in Sindh under foreign aid, the committee raised eyebrows over Rs22 billion allocated for 2.1 million houses, with Rs10,500 per house reportedly channelled to NGOs. Rs22 billion is not a small amount, these schemes are seriously crafty designed to aid NGOs, the committee while directing the officials to provide 20 years record of five NGOs involved along with their background and copies of their agreements. The committee also took serious notice of the absence of officials from the Sindh Peoples' Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) and the Sindh Solar Energy Project. The officials who were present at the meeting were unable to adequately brief or satisfy the Committee. The committee also deliberated on the 765kV Dasu-Islamabad Transmission Line Project of NTDC, where a possible financial discrepancy of Rs1.282 billion was highlighted. The committee observed that issue had already been discussed in detail in previous meetings of the committee. The concerned CE/P.D (PMU-DTLP) admitted in the meeting that tax amount was not included in the LoA issued to the qualified firm. The NTDC Board also approved the amount mentioned in the LoARs33 billion and Rs1.282 billion was later included in the signed agreement. Senator Abro directed the Director General (DG) Federal investigating Agency (FIA) and NAB chairman to investigate the matter, summoning all members of the NTDC Board of Directors for explanation over alleged violations of the bidding agreements. The secretary Power Division also assured the committee that action will be taken against the involved officials and firms. Regarding ADB 401B-2022 LoT II A (ACSR Bunting Conductor) and inquiries conducted on both projects by concerned departments, the Chairman Committee shared with the Committee that previously the issue of ADB 401B-2022 LoT II A (ACSR Bunting Conductor) project had been discussed in the previous tenure of SSC on Power under his chairmanship. The MD, NESPAK had admitted in the meeting that evaluation of the bid was wrong resulting in the procurement being conducted in the wrong way and senior officers were involved in it. M/s Newage Cable (Pvt) Ltd Lahore was second lowest bidder and had been given 15 per cent domestic preference and declared the first lowest bidder illegally. The MD, NESPAK also informed the committee that M/s Newage Cable (Pvt) Ltd Lahore has never manufactured ACSR bunting conductors. After the detailed deliberations, the chairman demanded complete correspondence records from the issuance of tender till the current date made with ADB including all required formalities by NESPAK, calling for full scrutiny of the tendering process. The Chairman Committee further recommended that details of testing reports of supplied materials and payment made to M/s Newage Cable (Pvt) Ltd Lahore may also be provided to the committee. The committee meeting was also attended by senators, Haji Hidayatullah Khan, FalakNaz, Kamran Murtaza, Rahat Jamali, Kamil Ali Agha, Dr Afnanullah Khan, and Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed pipeline project would harm North Carolina communities, report shows
This map -- produced by the group Appalachian Voices and republished in the 7 Directions of Service/Sierra Club report "Overburdened and Overlooked: Communities Harmed by Transco's Southeast Supply Enhancement Project" -- shows the North Carolina segment of the Transco pipeline. Areas of North Carolina surrounding a proposed pipeline project would suffer from further environmental pollution, according to a report released this week by the Sierra Club. The Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SSEP) to the Williams Company's Transco Pipeline system is a pipeline running from Virginia to Alabama that would move up to 1.5 billion cubic feet of methane gas each day. It's an expansion of an existing pipeline that runs from the Gulf Coast to New York, transporting about a third of the gas used in the country. SSEP is the largest new pipeline project on the East Coast since the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, both of which were started in 2014. Williams proposed SSEP to provide more energy reliability in the region. The pipeline would add the enough natural gas to serve approximately 9.8 million homes, according to Williams' website. The project would have detrimental effects on North Carolina, especially for low-income residents and communities of color, which would be disproportionately affected, environmental leaders said at a press conference on Wednesday. 'We are already overburdened by industrial pollution,' said Crystal Cavalier-Keck, director and co-founder of 7 Directions of Service, an indigenous-led collective focusing on environmental justice. 'These communities are treated as sacrifice zones for fossil fuel expansion with little to no say in the decision-making process.' Cavalier-Keck, a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, said she lives in a frontline community of the kind that are highly exposed to the impacts of environmental hazards and climate change. Emissions from gas transported by the pipeline would be incompatible with meeting North Carolina's climate goals, the report found. SSEP includes a section called the Salem Loop, which would add 24 miles of 42″-wide pipeline in Guilford, Forsyth, and Davidson counties in North Carolina. Another expansion, known as the Eden Loop, brings about an additional 31 miles of 42″-wide pipeline, primarily in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, but crossing into Rockingham County, North Carolina. 'That's 55 miles of new pipeline total that would be located largely alongside existing pipeline,' Alison Kirsch, senior energy campaigns analyst for the Sierra Club, said. 'Air pollution is already bad in the areas where Transco is proposing to build SSEP, including in low-income- and communities of color.' North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality will need to consider air and water quality permit applications for SSEP. Environmentalists are urging DEQ to factor in the threats that the project poses to the air and water sources of local communities. The Sierra Club encouraged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct a more nuanced environmental justice analysis than Transco did, including considering an environmental impact statement. Aminah Ghaffar-Fulp, policy director for 7 Directions of Service, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the real communities that will be impacted by the project regardless of any economic or monetary benefits. 'This is a dangerous project is going to cause a lot of harm in communities that already have a bunch of polluters, particularly Black, indigenous and low-income communities, and there's nothing that can change the negative environmental impact that this is going to have,' she said. 'Regardless of how much money it might look like it's going to bring to the state, it is really just going to line the pockets of certain companies… the overall impact is not worth the sacrifice.'
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sindh starts distributing solar systems to 200,000 low-income families
Listen to article The Sindh government has commenced the distribution of solar home systems (SHS) to 200,000 low-income households across the province, as part of the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP). Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah made the announcement at an event held near KPT Interchange, DHA Phase-I, where he also confirmed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had ordered the purchase of an additional 300,000 solar units for distribution among low-income families. 'Through this initiative, we are providing solar power solutions to low-income households, enabling them to improve their quality of life, access better education for their children, and enhance their businesses,' said Shah. The solar home systems will be distributed with significant subsidies, making them more affordable for families in need. Each system includes a robust solar panel, a 80W solar panel, a smart power management unit, a long-lasting battery, and essential accessories such as LED bulbs, mobile charging facilities, and a pedestal fan. During his address, the CM also highlighted the challenges faced by the Sindh government in the renewable energy sector, particularly in the development of the Thar Coal Project. Despite setbacks from federal government policies and financial constraints, the provincial government has remained committed to expanding renewable energy sources. Shah noted that in 2014, the Sindh government took a bold step by solarising 600 schools in Nagarparkar and launching two solar power schemes in Sukkur. However, the federal government's refusal to approve additional power generation projects hindered further progress. "We faced significant opposition when we tried to introduce solar power in the country. However, despite the challenges, we continued with our efforts to ensure that Sindh meets its energy needs," he said. The CM also discussed the success of the Thar Coal Project, which has started to generate the cheapest electricity in Pakistan. He credited former President Asif Ali Zardari for his efforts in securing federal cooperation and ensuring the project's completion. 'We are proud that Thar coal is now playing a key role in providing affordable energy to Sindh and the wider country,' he added. The Sindh government is also working with the federal government to develop a railway line dedicated to transporting Thar coal, further boosting the province's energy autonomy. Additionally, the Sindh government has partnered with Chinese companies to develop wind-solar hybrid energy projects, with a focus on 350 MW and 75 MW schemes, which were finalised during Asif Ali Zardari's recent visit to China. The CM reaffirmed the government's commitment to providing 300 free electricity units per month to low-income families, aligning with the PPP's manifesto and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He expressed hope that the goal of distributing 200,000 SHS kits by July 2025 would be met, with a target of 400 kits per district per week. Energy Minister Nasser Shah emphasised that the SHS kits are being distributed equally across all 30 districts of Sindh. The distribution is being facilitated with the help of established NGOs like HANDS, SRSO, and SEFCO, ensuring the efficient delivery of kits. He also noted that beneficiaries are being carefully selected using data from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), ensuring that the most needy families are prioritised. The CM concluded by praising the work of the Sindh Energy Department and its team, stating that the province is determined to lead the way in the transition to clean energy, with the support of the World Bank and other international development partners. 'The Sindh Solar Energy Project is a crucial step towards a greener, more equitable future,' he added.
