K-P govt announces hydel plan

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has prepared a Hydel Development Action Plan for 2011-2025 to overcome increasing energy demand in the province.

The plan will generate approximately 524 MW of electricity and will start in the fiscal year 2011-12. According to official sources, power stations will be constructed with the cooperation of Sarhad Hydel Development Organization (SHYDO). The plan proposes various hydropower projects including Matiltan in Swat, which will generate 85 MW of electricity, the 115MW Sharmai project in Dir, Koto in Lower Dir with a capacity of 31 MW, Jabori with a capacity of 8 MW, Karora will generate 10 MW, Shusai-Zhendoli in Chitral will generate 144 MW and Shogo Sin will have a capacity of 132 MW.

The projects, worth a combined Rs6.03 billion, will be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Sources said SHYDO will construct two new projects over the next four years, which will generate 20MW of electricity.

Similarly, the plan also includes the construction of Daral Khwar Hydel Power Station, which will cost approximately Rs6.96 billion. The project will generate 36 MW of electricity. ADB will also fund the construction of Ronalia Power Station in Kohistan with a capacity of 17 MW and a 2.6 MW Machai project in Mardan.

Sources also said SHYDO had started construction of four power stations in Malakand Division, Swabi and Chitral districts, adding that Pehrur and Shishi power projects had been completed last year and were generating 105 MW of electricity.

They further said that these projects were not only contributing to increased power generation, but were also creating annual revenues of Rs3 billion in K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2011.