WAPDA conducts feasibility studies for 17,000MW power projects
* Caretaker water and power minister briefed on ongoing projects
Staff Report
LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has initiated 12 feasibility studies of sites to assess the potential of these areas to host hydropower projects capable of generating more than 17,000 MW of electricity. Sites in Bunji, Dasu and Kohala figure prominently.
The studies will be competed within two years, said Caretaker Minister for Water and Power Tariq Hamid in a meeting at WAPDA House on Monday. The meeting was convened to review progress on water and hydropower projects. Hamid expressed satisfaction over the progress of ongoing projects. Keeping in view the ever-increasing population and rapid economic growth, the country is in dire need of exploiting water and power resources, he said. He directed WAPDA to expedite all such projects on a priority basis.
WAPDA Chairman Shakil Durrani and Member (Water) Muhammad Mushtaq Chaudhry briefed the caretaker minister on various projects. He was told that the contract for the construction of the 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project had already been awarded, and that work on the project will start soon.
Hamid was also told that water-filling in the raised Mangla Dam would start by April 2008, and that the additional 2.88 million acre feet of water would enhance Manglas power generation capacity by 12 percent.
The caretaker minister was briefed on three high-head hydropower projects, namely Khan, Duber and Allai Khawar. He was told that these plants would start generating power by 2009 in a phased manner. Hamid was told that phase 1 of the Kachhi Canal Project, entailing the construction of a 400km-long main canal and an allied distribution system, is scheduled for completion by December 2008. Phases 2 and 3 will most likely be completed in 2009 and 2010 respectively, he was told.
The caretaker minister was also briefed on the Satpara Dam Project, the Greater Thal and Rainee Canals and various drainage programmes. He was told that preparation of the detailed engineering design and tender documents for the Diamer-Basha Dam were progressing on schedule.
Member (Power) Fazal Ahmed Khan, Member (Finance) Chaudhry Abdul Qadeer and general managers of the Water Wing also attended the meeting.
Later, Hamid presided over a conference of power distribution companies (DISCOs). PEPCO Managing Director Munawar B Ahmad briefed the minister on the performance of DISCOs during July-October 2007. The minister directed PEPCO to provide energy saver bulbs to shopping plazas, hospitals and the domestic consumers for energy conservation.
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