Pakistan, USAID to co-host Int’l investors’ conference on Bhasha Dam

[Saifullah Sani]

Pakistan: An international investors’ conference on Diamer Bhasha Dam will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington in October, the US ambassador Richard G. Olson said.

In a meeting with the federal minister for finance Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday, the US ambassador said that the United States also considers Kurram Tangi Hydro Power Project as an important project which can benefit people of FATA.

The US ambassador said that besides the US, Italy and Islamic Development Bank are also interested to finance the Project.

The finance minister said that energy remains one of the highest priorities of the present government. He said that in this connection the government is working on fast track to utilize indigenous sources to reduce the dependence on imported and expensive sources.

Pakistan, USAID to co-host Int’l investors' conference on Bhasha Dam

 

[Jazzbot]

Nice initiative, but this thread tells completely different story: Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

Nice initiative, but this thread tells completely different story: Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037

BS news, Bhasha will be completed before 2025. And Dasu-II can not be completed without Bhasha dam anyway.

Govt mulling PPP mode for Bhasha dam construction
09 July, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for the construction of much needed Diamer Bhasha Dam, as the government would share some responsibilities with the private investors at development and execution stage.

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for the construction of much needed Diamer Bhasha Dam, as the government would share some responsibilities with the private investors at development and execution stage.

Chairman Wapda Zafara Mahmood has presented the proposal of PPP mode for Diamer Bhasha Dam in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar. The government is struggling to arrange funds for the construction of the much needed dam that could generate around 4500 megawatt electricity.

According to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2014-15, the overall cost of Diamer Bhasha Dam is Rs 826 billion. Therefore, the government could not afford to complete the project on its resources and it would have to go for PPP mode.

Chairman Wapda Zafar Mahmood briefed the Finance Minister that the past experience of project development through PPIB shows that private investors short listed for development of hydel power projects could not achieve financial close as schedule due to lengthy procedures involved. In order to remove the obstacles and impediments, Chairman Wapda suggested for fast track development of the projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said that the Ministry is making efforts to enhance power generation in order to reduce supply and demand gap. He emphasised hydel led energy mix which can provide cheaper electricity to the public.

The Finance Minister said that one year back, everybody including international financial institutions was talking of either Dasu or Diamer Bhasha Dam. After coming into power, the government studied both the options and decided to go ahead with both Dasu and Diamer Bhasha at the same time. He further declared that the government will undertake Bunji, Pattan, thahkot, Monda, and Dasu II projects too. He said that in line with the vision of the PML-N leadership, we will concentrate on generating cheap electricity. He added that combined with Dasu, Diamer and coal based projects; we will eventually phase out costly thermal generation resulting in reduction of import bill.

The Finance Minister said that we will invite private sector in the energy projects while giving them reasonable upfront tariff. He directed the Chairman Wapda to prepare the whole model in the light of decisions taken in the meeting for final presentation to the Prime Minister. He expressed his optimism that international investors will be interested in investment opportunities in Pakistan providing promising returns.

Courtesy: The Nation

 

[FunkyGen]

Nice initiative, but this thread tells completely different story: Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037

That article is without a source, this one has a source..... also read.....
Govt mulling PPP mode for Bhasha dam construction - PakTribune

 

[Jazzbot]

That article is without a source, this one has a source..... also read.....
Govt mulling PPP mode for Bhasha dam construction - PakTribune

Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037 - thenews.com.pk
Maybe the OP in that thread forgot to share the source. The news is genuine and is latest, dated today.

 

[FunkyGen]

Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037 - thenews.com.pk
Maybe the OP in that thread forgot to share the source. The news is genuine and is latest, dated today.

Two sources vs one

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037 - thenews.com.pk
Maybe the OP in that thread forgot to share the source. The news is genuine and is latest, dated today.

Did any official said that? Other wise lets wait and see.

 

[Jazzbot]

BS news, Bhasha will be completed before 2025. And Dasu-II can not be completed without Bhasha dam anyway.

Govt mulling PPP mode for Bhasha dam construction
09 July, 2014

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for the construction of much needed Diamer Bhasha Dam, as the government would share some responsibilities with the private investors at development and execution stage.

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for the construction of much needed Diamer Bhasha Dam, as the government would share some responsibilities with the private investors at development and execution stage.

Chairman Wapda Zafara Mahmood has presented the proposal of PPP mode for Diamer Bhasha Dam in a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar. The government is struggling to arrange funds for the construction of the much needed dam that could generate around 4500 megawatt electricity.

According to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2014-15, the overall cost of Diamer Bhasha Dam is Rs 826 billion. Therefore, the government could not afford to complete the project on its resources and it would have to go for PPP mode.

Chairman Wapda Zafar Mahmood briefed the Finance Minister that the past experience of project development through PPIB shows that private investors short listed for development of hydel power projects could not achieve financial close as schedule due to lengthy procedures involved. In order to remove the obstacles and impediments, Chairman Wapda suggested for fast track development of the projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.

The Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said that the Ministry is making efforts to enhance power generation in order to reduce supply and demand gap. He emphasised hydel led energy mix which can provide cheaper electricity to the public.

The Finance Minister said that one year back, everybody including international financial institutions was talking of either Dasu or Diamer Bhasha Dam. After coming into power, the government studied both the options and decided to go ahead with both Dasu and Diamer Bhasha at the same time. He further declared that the government will undertake Bunji, Pattan, thahkot, Monda, and Dasu II projects too. He said that in line with the vision of the PML-N leadership, we will concentrate on generating cheap electricity. He added that combined with Dasu, Diamer and coal based projects; we will eventually phase out costly thermal generation resulting in reduction of import bill.

The Finance Minister said that we will invite private sector in the energy projects while giving them reasonable upfront tariff. He directed the Chairman Wapda to prepare the whole model in the light of decisions taken in the meeting for final presentation to the Prime Minister. He expressed his optimism that international investors will be interested in investment opportunities in Pakistan providing promising returns.

Courtesy: The Nation

Contradicting news, anyways I hope the Bhasha dam will not be delayed till 2037, a delay by 23 years is freaking too much.

Two sources vs one

I am not contesting, I am worried about this project. Dasu dam is hydel project, its not meant for water storage or irrigation. We desperately need Bhasha dam as soon as possible for water storage, irrgation, power generation and flood management. There is no alternative of Bhasha dam.

 

[Saifullah Sani]

Nice initiative, but this thread tells completely different story: Bhasha Dam delayed till 2037

some quotes

Having failed to make any headways in arranging finances

the Dasu Hydropower Project is being given preference

 

[INDIC]

Pakistan: An international investors’ conference on Diamer Bhasha Dam will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Washington in October, the US ambassador Richard G. Olson said.

In a meeting with the federal minister for finance Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday, the US ambassador said that the United States also considers Kurram Tangi Hydro Power Project as an important project which can benefit people of FATA.

The US ambassador said that besides the US, Italy and Islamic Development Bank are also interested to finance the Project.

The finance minister said that energy remains one of the highest priorities of the present government. He said that in this connection the government is working on fast track to utilize indigenous sources to reduce the dependence on imported and expensive sources.

Pakistan, USAID to co-host Int’l investors' conference on Bhasha Dam

It still seems very doubtful that project will get any foreign investment since the dam is in Gilgit-Baltistan(Jammu and Kashmir) and India will object to it. On other article it says dam project has been postponed to 2037.

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

It still seems very doubtful that project will get any foreign investment since the dam is in Gilgit-Baltistan(Jammu and Kashmir) and India will object to it. On other article it says dam project has been postponed to 2037.

Construction have already started, GoP released Rs 25 billion for project this year from its own resources. And 2037 is bs article without any quote from official. Look at Neelam Jhelum 969mw dam, will be completed in 2016 and its in Azad Kashmir.

 

[INDIC]

Construction have already started, GoP released Rs 25 billion for project this year from its own resources. And 2037 is bs article without any quote from official. Look at Neelam Jhelum 969mw dam, will be completed in 2016 and its in Azad Kashmir.

Bhasha dam is very expensive project, 25 billion are just drop in the ocean. You will still need a big foreign investment or else it will takes decades to finish it like Lowari Tunnel.

 

[Jazzbot]

the Dasu Hydropower Project is being given preference

That is the point, Dasu is no alternative of Bhasha. Its just a hydro project, can't be used for water storage, irrigation and flood control. Bhasha is desperately needed.

Fine, delay it for now but not for 23 years in one go.

 

[Fracker]

That's a Relief

Bhasha dam is very expensive project, 25 billion are just drop in the ocean. You will still need a big foreign investment or else it will takes decades to finish it like Lowari Tunnel.

Don't worry, we aren't asking you to pay.

It's need of the hour, money should be least issue while thinking about this projects.

 

[Shabaz Sharif]

Bhasha dam is very expensive project, 25 billion are just drop in the ocean. You will still need a big foreign investment or else it will takes decades to finish it like Lowari Tunnel.

Total cost $8 billion billion over 10 years. Not a big deal because Bhasha is most important dam. And middle east banks will provide loans anyway. If Saudi Arabia can gift Pakistan $1.5 billion then loan is least of their worries.