Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has been asked to undertake 665 MW Lower Pallas Valley and 496 MW Lower Spat Gah hydropower projects in a Public Private Partnership mode and complete the formalities to execute the projects within minimum possible time frame.
This was decided in a meeting held here Wednesday with Minister for Water and Power Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar in the chair, said a press release issued here.
The Minister in his opening remarks stated that the government was now focusing on hydel power to generate cheaper and affordable electricity for the consumers.
Both the projects would help meet the future demand. He said that the government was also taking initiatives to develop indigenous resources because the future power generation would be based on hydel, solar, wind and coal resources.
The investors would be facilitated and extend full cooperation in order to attract the investment in the power sector.
The Minister also asked PPIB to complete the formalities for signing of Joint Development Agreement (JDA) among the sponsors of the projects as early as possible so that the projects could be started.
Earlier, the meeting was given a briefing by the MD PPIB and was informed that the feasibility studies of the projects were executed by WAPDA. Korean companies were selected to implement these projects through PPP mode after inviting EOIs through press, he added.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Wapda and Korean companies would be the sponsors of these projects, it was further informed.
It may be mentioned here that 665 MW Lower Pallas Valley Hydropower Project and 496 MW Spat Gah Hydropower Project, both are located on left bank tributaries of river Indus in district Kohistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about 12 km and 35 km upstream of Pattan respectively.
The construction period of each project is five years while the estimated cost of the Lower Pallas project is $763 million and Lower Spat Gah is $697 million.
The meeting was participated by Special Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power, Additional Chief Secretary KPK, Chairman Wapda, MD PPIB, DG BOI, MD Shydo KPK, and senior officials of Ministry, PPIB, Wapda, Planning Commission and Finance division.
