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WAPDA directed to complete project by 2015
LAHORE: Minister of State for Water and Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali has directed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to ensure that the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project starts generating electricity by the end of 2015 in line with the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He asked WAPDA to expedite construction work on the project, adding that meeting deadlines is key to overcoming the challenge of power outages in the country.
The minister is currently on a two-day visit to the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is being accompanied by a delegation of the Saudi Development Fund and Islamic Development Bank.
Wapda Chairman Syed Raghib Abbas Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project Lt. General (R) Muhammad Zubair, representatives of the consultants and the contractors and other senior officers of WAPDA were also present on the occasion.
The minister visited various sites at the power plant including its powerhouse, transformer hall and the weir (dam) to monitor progress on the project. He also observed the operation of tunnel boring machines deployed at the project.
“Energy security figures at the top of the federal government’s agenda. The country’s economic and industrial development has suffered a great deal due to energy deficits,” said the Minister of State for Water and Power during the visit. He, however, added that the PML-N government is determined to rid the country of the menace of load-shedding by 2018.
He said that the National Power Policy 2013 comprises short, medium and long-term measures to revamp and bolster the country’s power system. “Pakistan’s future lies in low-cost hydel power generation,” Ali said, while highlighting an identified potential of about 60,000MW in the country through hydel sources.
The minister said that a phased increase of hydel power into the national grid to the tune of 12,850MW over a period of 5-7 years would make low-cost energy available and reduce dependence on costly thermal power generation.
“The federal government is exploring all available options including hydel, coal, solar and biomass to produce low-cost energy to meet the country’s development needs.”
The minister also appreciated the Saudi Development Fund for providing additional funds worth $100 million for the Neelum Jhelum project.
Earlier, Wapda chairman informed the Minister of State for Water and Power about the progress on the project. He said, in line with the prime minister’s directions, WAPDA is making all-out efforts to complete the project. “Work on all sites is progressing satisfactorily and overall progress on the project stands at 51 percent.” Out of a total 67-km stretch of tunnels, about 40 km (about 59%) have so far been excavated, while excavation of underground power house stands at 90.6% and transformers hall at 100%, the Wapda chairman added.
Wapda Chairman Abbas Shah said the project would contribute 5.15 billion units of electricity to the national grid every year, adding that annual benefits to be accrued from the project have been estimated at about Rs45 billion.
LAHORE: Minister of State for Water and Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali has directed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to ensure that the Neelum Jhelum hydropower project starts generating electricity by the end of 2015 in line with the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He asked WAPDA to expedite construction work on the project, adding that meeting deadlines is key to overcoming the challenge of power outages in the country.
The minister is currently on a two-day visit to the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He is being accompanied by a delegation of the Saudi Development Fund and Islamic Development Bank.
Wapda Chairman Syed Raghib Abbas Shah, Chief Executive Officer of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project Lt. General (R) Muhammad Zubair, representatives of the consultants and the contractors and other senior officers of WAPDA were also present on the occasion.
The minister visited various sites at the power plant including its powerhouse, transformer hall and the weir (dam) to monitor progress on the project. He also observed the operation of tunnel boring machines deployed at the project.
“Energy security figures at the top of the federal government’s agenda. The country’s economic and industrial development has suffered a great deal due to energy deficits,” said the Minister of State for Water and Power during the visit. He, however, added that the PML-N government is determined to rid the country of the menace of load-shedding by 2018.
He said that the National Power Policy 2013 comprises short, medium and long-term measures to revamp and bolster the country’s power system. “Pakistan’s future lies in low-cost hydel power generation,” Ali said, while highlighting an identified potential of about 60,000MW in the country through hydel sources.
The minister said that a phased increase of hydel power into the national grid to the tune of 12,850MW over a period of 5-7 years would make low-cost energy available and reduce dependence on costly thermal power generation.
“The federal government is exploring all available options including hydel, coal, solar and biomass to produce low-cost energy to meet the country’s development needs.”
The minister also appreciated the Saudi Development Fund for providing additional funds worth $100 million for the Neelum Jhelum project.
Earlier, Wapda chairman informed the Minister of State for Water and Power about the progress on the project. He said, in line with the prime minister’s directions, WAPDA is making all-out efforts to complete the project. “Work on all sites is progressing satisfactorily and overall progress on the project stands at 51 percent.” Out of a total 67-km stretch of tunnels, about 40 km (about 59%) have so far been excavated, while excavation of underground power house stands at 90.6% and transformers hall at 100%, the Wapda chairman added.
Wapda Chairman Abbas Shah said the project would contribute 5.15 billion units of electricity to the national grid every year, adding that annual benefits to be accrued from the project have been estimated at about Rs45 billion.
