ISLAMABAD
GE Renewable Energy and Sapphire Wind Power Co Limited (SWPCL) recently joined forces for a first-of-its-kind initiative, installing an emergency medical centre within the premises of Sapphire Wind Farm, Jhimpir village in Thatta district.
Jhimpir falls in the Gharo-Keti Bandar Wind Corridor, which has a potential to generate up to 50,000MW of electricity, as per the information retrieved from the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB).
The Jhimpir corridor is in the south-eastern part of Pakistan between Hyderabad and Karachi, and is approximately 95 km inland, from the coast in a semi-desert area, which makes access to necessary medical care for inhabitants of the region quite laborious.
This joint effort aims to bring fundamental medical emergency services to the community in a timely manner. In addition, this commitment of $ 100,000 will create awareness around EHS, and serve the wider community, in terms of emergency and temporary care.
To achieve this significant milestone, GE worked closely with SWPCL to plan the process, identify risks beforehand, ensure the highest standards in quality control and maintain adequate resources for a smooth and speedy execution.
The Sapphire Wind Farm Project includes thirty-three GE 1.6-82.5 wind turbines from GE Renewable Energy. This is the first wind farm in Pakistan to be awarded a Feed in Tariff (FIT) by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and provides energy to not only the nearby Nooriabad Industrial Area but the remote villages as well.
SWPCL CEO, Nadeem Abdullah said, “People in rural and remote locations such as Jhimpir need to travel long distances to frequent hospitals to receive special services and it can be stressful. The whole purpose of this effort is to bring support to them. The medical facility is the first structure of its kind in this remote location, enabling a high level of medical services in off-grid settings. The clinic is designed and implemented by GE and Aga Khan Medical University Hospital, and is equipped with high-quality medical diagnostics and treatment equipment, a pharmacy and a CE certified ambulance, and can treat up to 60 patients per day.”
GE Pakistan and Central Asia President & CEO, Sarim Sheikh added, “GE has a strong presence in Pakistan and has been a committed partner in Pakistan’s growth story for more than 50 years, with the inaugural of this medical facility, we want to make a positive contribution to improving people’s lives in an area which is outlying. Our focus is to avoid and assuage any impact to ourselves, teams, and the communities we work in.”
