KP to generate 100MW micro-hydropower projects

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to increase the number of micro hydropower generation projects to 1000, with total power generation capacity of 100 megawatts (MW).

The project, as informed by the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (Pedo) Akbar Ayub Khan, would benefit a population of 1.0 million.

The Pedo took the initiative of sharing this project with Asian Development Bank (ADB), he said and added that the ADB had already hired consultants through a grant to Pedo to develop a robust business model for the projects and develop a sustainable framework so that Pedo could be able to implement these projects effectively. It has also offered to provide funding for the project, he added.

However, the Pedo has completed 88 of the 365 micro-hydropower projects started under a similar programme two years ago. The programme envisaged construction of 356 MHPs in 12 districts of the province where there is no access to electricity or experiences excessive loadshedding.

These are community-based projects being implemented through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with the objective of providing access to energy at an affordable and low cost. These 356 projects are planned to generate a total of 35mw electricity benefitting 350,000 people and are being handed over to community-based organisations (CBOs) of the respective areas after completion.

Presently, a total of 88 projects have been completed which are providing cheap and uninterrupted electricity to rural population in the province. The projects include 12 projects of total capacity 580 KW in Abbottabad, 26 projects of 1035 KW in Battagram, 10 projects of 640 KW in Chitral, 18 projects of 580 KW in Swat, seven projects of 270 KW in Kohistan, eight projects of 250 KW in Shangla, four projects of 110 KW in Upper Dir and three projects of 100 KW Buner, the Pedo CEO further informed.

He said that the projects were providing electricity to households, schools, BHUs, mosques, shops, etc and overall economic activity in these areas has also increased.

Besides, the Pedo is also collaborating with ADB to fund one of its biggest projects to date, 300 MW in Balakot, Mansehra and the ADB has given its principled agreement to provide loan financing for the project under its Multi tranche Finance Facility (MFF). Total size of the MFF would be $2.0 billion, which will also include funding other hdyel power projects by Pedo besides Balakot, he said.

Akbar Ayub said that work on the public sector was already underway with eight projects of 270 MW at different stages of implementation and three of these projects of 56 MW capacity are expected to reach commercial operations by the end of this year.The Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) has also completed a number of micro hydel projects in Swat, Dir and Chitral districts and work on many is in final stages.