Peshawar - Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan on Tuesday presided over a meeting of Energy and Power Department which was informed that the has completed 8 different hydro power projects with total capacity of 161MW through which Rs3.98 billion annual revenue is expected.
Similarly, under the solar project, five different schemes of 3.12MW have been completed which have resulted in annual saving of Rs86 million. Work is also in progress on the construction of other seven hydro power projects with total capacity of 232MW and 7 solar projects with total capacity of 43MW as well. These projects are expected to generate annual revenue of Rs9 billion and saving of Rs865 million respectively.
The meeting was attended besides others by Special Assistant to CM for Energy Taj Muhammad Tarand, Secretary Energy Muhammad Zubair, Chief Executive Officer PEDO Muhammad Naeem and other concerned officials.
The forum was briefed about the major achievements and overall performance of the department and was told that so far 8 hydro power projects had been completed in the province that include 81MW Malakand-III Hydro Power Project Dargai, 18MW Hydro Power Project Pehur, 1.8MW Shishi Hydro Power Project Chitral, 4.2MW Reshun Hydro Power Project Chitral, 2.6MW Machai Hydro Power Project Mardan, 36.6MW Daral Hydro Power Project Swat, 17MW Ranolia Hydro Power Project Kohistan and 10 mini micro projects on canals.
KP CM chairs meeting of Energy, Power Department, directs to initiate work on phase-II of mini hydro power projects
Similarly, it was informed that 7 hydro power projects were under construction in different parts of the province including 10.2MW Jabori Hydro Power Project Mansehra, 11.8MW Karora Hydro Power Project Shangla, 40.8MW Koto Hydro Power Project Dir Lower, 84MW Mataltan Hydro Power Project Swat, 69MW Lawi Hydro Power Project Chitral, 10.5MW Chapri Charkhel Hydro Power Project Kurrum and 6.5MW Barando Hydro Power Project District Torghar. These seven projects would be completed with a total estimated cost of Rs73 billion.
The authorities informed the meeting that an agreement had been signed with Asian Development Bank for the construction of 300MW Balakot Hydro Power Project besides an agreement had also been inked with World Bank for the construction of 157MW Madain Hydro Power Project and 88MW Gabral Kalam Hydro Power Project.
They said that under the Public Private Partnership, 188MW Naran and 96MW Batakundi hydro power projects were also under construction whereas feasibility for 496MW Spatgah Hydro Power Project was in progress. It was further informed that PCIs of three different projects having the total capacity of 564MW had been prepared. These projects would be reflected in the next Public Sector Development Programme.
The meeting was also told that under the first phase of mini micro hydro power projects, 356 projects were being constructed in different parts of the province out of which 266 projects had been completed and operationalised so far while under the second phase of the project more 672 mini micro hydro power projects would be constructed.
Briefing about the solar projects, the authorities said that 2323 masajid had been solarised in the province adding that under the project a total of 4000 masajid would be converted on solar system. Similarly, 8000 schools were also being solarised in the province out of which solarisation of 3000 schools had been completed so far.
They said that contract had been awarded for the construction of 13 mini solar grid stations in merged areas further stating that transmission and grid company of the province had been established. 10 years business plan has also been approved for the funding of power projects under the PEDO whereas E-bidding system has been launched by the department.
The Chief Minister, expressing satisfaction over the performance of the Energy Department, directed the quarters concerned to prepare workable operational plan for operating completed mini micro hydel power stations further directing them to ensure participation of local community for the better management of the hydel power stations.
He also directed to immediately initiate work on the phase-II of mini hydro power projects and solar projects as well. He further directed to finalise arrangements to perform ground breaking of Balakot Hydro Power Project and to start work on construction of solar grid stations in the merged areas without any delay.
