U.S.-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership to benefit 30 million Pakistanis

Since 2009, the U.S. has worked with Pakistan through the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue. The U.S. has spent more than $1 billion since then to support energy infrastructure investments, leading to 1,700 more megawatts of power in Pakistan’s electrical grid.

Under the U.S.-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership, the United States will work with the Government of Pakistan to advance energy sector reforms, improve the investment framework, and make targeted investments that will enable U.S., Pakistani, and international private sector developers to add at least 3,000 megawatts (MW) of clean power generation infrastructure to Pakistan’s national electricity system, benefitting 30 million Pakistanis.

Recognizing the critical importance of increasing energy security and access in a clean, sustainable manner, the United States has committed more than $1 billion to date to support energy sector investments and reforms in cooperation with the Government of Pakistan.

Areas of cooperation envisioned under the U.S.-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership to address the current and future energy needs of Pakistan are:

• Catalyze private-sector energy investments:  The United States will provide technical assistance, risk guarantees, and targeted investments in supporting energy infrastructure (e.g., transmission lines) to enhance Government of Pakistan (GOP) efforts to attract private funding.
• Highlight Pakistan’s energy opportunities:  The Pakistani and the U.S. governments will hold a Clean Energy Business Opportunities Conference in December 2015.
• Improve energy resource development planning:  The U.S. Department of Energy and three of its research laboratories will collaborate with Pakistan to develop an energy sector-wide Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for energy.
• Promote energy efficiency:  Support the creation of an Industrial Energy Efficiency Expertise Center with collaboration of the Institute of Architects of Pakistan and a Pakistani university, and carry out an Energy Efficiency pilot project.
• Facilitate regional cooperation in clean energy:  The U.S.-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership will help facilitate dialogue with regional countries on potential cooperation in clean energy through cooperative programs like CASA-1000.
• Foster a new generation of Pakistani energy leaders:  Through the U.S.-Pakistan Centers for Advanced Studies in energy, USAID has funded a partnership between Arizona State University, the National University of Sciences and Technology, and the University of Engineering & Technology-Peshawar to develop innovative energy research and solution hubs, partnering with both policymakers and industry.