ADB, WAPDA discuss Diamer-Bhasha financing
Challenges related to the project were also addressed.
LAHORE:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Consultation Mission, headed by the Energy Division Director Rune Stroem visited Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) House here on Thursday, to discuss matters relating to the financing of Diamer-Bhasha dam project.
While appreciating the progress made on Diamer-Bhasha dam project and praising its technical report, Stroem said that since the project is a major one, there are challenges to it as well.
There are issues relating to resettlement of the affected people and the environment needs further study with international consultants, he said. “However, we hope to tackle these challenges in close coordination with each other,” he added.
In his welcome remarks, Wapda Chairman Shakil Durrani said that Wapda is implementing several projects to cope with the increasing demand of water and electricity in the country. Among the projects, he said, the 4,500MW-Diamer Basha dam is vital, as this mega project will usher in accelerated socio-economic development in Pakistan.
He further said that Wapda looks forward to a close cooperation of the international financial institutions, the ADB in particular, to implement this mega project.
During the briefing, the ADB mission was informed that the $12 billion Diamer-Bhasha dam is a multi-purpose project with the objectives to store water for irrigation, mitigate floods and generate low-cost and environment-friendly hydel electricity.
On completion, the project will store 8.1 million acre feet of water besides generating 4,500MW of electricity. The project will add about 20 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid. The annual benefits of the project have been estimated at about $2.3 billion, the delegation was further told.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Consultation Mission, headed by the Energy Division Director Rune Stroem visited Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) House here on Thursday, to discuss matters relating to the financing of Diamer-Bhasha dam project.
While appreciating the progress made on Diamer-Bhasha dam project and praising its technical report, Stroem said that since the project is a major one, there are challenges to it as well.
There are issues relating to resettlement of the affected people and the environment needs further study with international consultants, he said. “However, we hope to tackle these challenges in close coordination with each other,” he added.
In his welcome remarks, Wapda Chairman Shakil Durrani said that Wapda is implementing several projects to cope with the increasing demand of water and electricity in the country. Among the projects, he said, the 4,500MW-Diamer Basha dam is vital, as this mega project will usher in accelerated socio-economic development in Pakistan.
He further said that Wapda looks forward to a close cooperation of the international financial institutions, the ADB in particular, to implement this mega project.
During the briefing, the ADB mission was informed that the $12 billion Diamer-Bhasha dam is a multi-purpose project with the objectives to store water for irrigation, mitigate floods and generate low-cost and environment-friendly hydel electricity.
On completion, the project will store 8.1 million acre feet of water besides generating 4,500MW of electricity. The project will add about 20 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid. The annual benefits of the project have been estimated at about $2.3 billion, the delegation was further told.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.