PHOTO: REUTERS
The K-P government has proposed a plan of constructing two grid stations – one at Drosh in Chitral and other at Chakdara in Dir – to evacuate the energy generated by the hydro power stations (HPPs).
The project also includes laying of 225 km long 500kv transmission lines from Chitral to Dir. It is estimated to cost $192.5 million and the K-P government would present the proposed project before investors in Beijing in its road show scheduled to be held in China from April 16-18.
PAC subcommittee wants upgrade of grid stations
The K-P government has been trying to include the project in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project so that it may not have to run for finding out finances for it.
The K-P government officials dealing the matter told The Express Tribune that the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) has not included the project in its agenda till 2025.
“We have to execute the project as we will need it in future and the NTDC has no plans for the project in its plan for 2025,” said a senior K-P government official.
Replying to a question regarding the K-P government’s powers to construct the grid stations and lay transmission lines, the official quoted Article-157-C of the Constitution which states, “the provincial government may construct power houses and grid stations and lay transmission lines for use within the province.”
Another official said the K-P government has already awarded three HPPs to the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) which would generate 520MW electricity and would be completed in 4 years.
The K-P government has also included seven HPPs in the CPEC. These projects are to be constructed in Chitral and 1,978MW electricity would be generated by these HPPs.
Grid station in F-9: CDA likely to push for building facility in park
“If all the projects complete in their stipulated time period then we will have 2,500MW electricity which will be needed to be evacuated and connected to the rest of the province and to the national grid,” said the official adding that the K-P need electricity for its industrial estates which are under construction.
“We have two options – either to use the electricity under the ‘wheeling regime’ of Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) or to set industry in Chitral as a major chunk of the electricity will be coming from Chitral,” he said.
As per the documents prepared for the road show, the province has the potential of generating 30,000MW energy from its hydel resources.
To evacuate the electricity from Chitral and to connect it to other districts of the province and to the national grid, the two grid stations and the transmission lines will be constructed.
The proposed 500-kv Drosh (Chitral) grid station would be connected to the proposed 500-kv Chakdara (Dir) grid stations via the 225km long 500kv transmission lines to evacuate energy from the Chitral to other areas of the province and to connect it to the transmission lines of national grid at Chakdara.
The grid stations would cost $40 million each and the transmission lines’ estimated cost is $112.5 million . The K-P government has already included seven HPPs in the CPEC which would cost $6.9 billion and the projects would be presented in the road show for attracting investors.
The documents said the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation would facilitate the investors through one window and would help them in getting needed permission from relevant agencies.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ