The implementation of the Sindh Solar Energy Project, funded by the World Bank, has faced significant delays, with a slow rate of disbursement under the project. Official documents indicate that the World Bank has disbursed $21.83 million, which is only 23 percent of the total $100 million allocated for the project. The overall progress of the project has been rated as moderately unsatisfactory.
The project was approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in June 2018 and became effective in January 2019. However, due to various delays, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, the project has fallen significantly behind its implementation schedule. Tangible results have been achieved under just one of the four project components.
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To address these delays, the project’s closing date has been extended to July 31, 2025, providing additional time for implementation and achieving the targeted project results. Here’s a breakdown of progress in each project component:
- Component 1: Limited on-the-ground progress has been made, but competitive bidding is expected to commence soon for three sites through separate Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
- Component 2: Some progress has been made, with the commissioning of 29 sites (16.39 MW) for the installation of solar power on the rooftops of public hospitals. A second round of installations is underway, and further rounds of procurement are in planning.
- Component 3: Progress has stalled due to floods in the summer of 2022 and import restrictions imposed by the federal government. The component is being redesigned, adopting a “bulk procurement” approach, with initial procurement efforts underway.
- Component 4: Limited implementation has been observed, with the completion of training for 300 solar technicians.
The documents reveal that the Sindh Solar Energy Department (SED) has agreed on a set of actions to accelerate implementation. SED has obtained approval for a revised PC-1, which aims to reallocate funds among project components, formalize changes in design for Component 3, and introduce measures to facilitate smoother implementation.
Overall, the project faces challenges in meeting its objectives due to slow disbursement and delays caused by various factors, including the pandemic and design changes. The extension of the project’s closing date provides an opportunity to address these issues and achieve the intended outcomes.
