Lahore: Provincial Minister for Energy Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar chaired a meeting to evaluate pilot projects aimed at implementing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in three key industrial regions of Punjab. The initiative seeks to enhance the power supply through solar energy and battery storage, reduce production costs, and promote efficient energy use.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the meeting focused on the technical aspects of the projects, which target improved power quality and stability in Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, and the Quaid-e-Azam Business Park industrial area. The minister directed authorities to collaborate with the Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company (PIEDMC) to identify suitable land for solarisation and develop a comprehensive implementation strategy.

The minister emphasized the government’s priority to provide affordable and reliable electricity to industries, acknowledging the sector’s role in economic growth and employment generation. He noted that integrating battery energy storage with solar solutions could stabilize the electricity supply and optimize the use of alternative energy.

During the meeting, CEO QASPL Muhammad Badr-ul-Munir outlined the project’s provision of up to four hours of backup through BESS, alongside 12 hours of off-grid and 12 hours of national grid power supply. PFAS Ahmad Qazi presented a report prepared in collaboration with PIDMIC, examining technical considerations and potential applications of the system. The meeting concluded with discussions on evaluating BESS solutions’ effectiveness and the potential expansion to other industrial areas in Punjab.