Project Brief

Balakot Hydropower Project was first identified by PEDO in 1995 with the technical collaboration of German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ). The feasibility study for the project was conducted by PEDO in 2013 through a JV of Consultants led by Mirza Associates Engineering Services (Pvt.) Ltd (MAES). In 2017, under the Hydropower Development Investment Program, Asian Development Bank showed interest in Balakot HPP and appointed Aqualogus (Portuguese Consultant) as a project preparatory consultant to conduct a review and technical due diligence of 2013 Feasibility Study. ADB updated the said Feasibility Study Report in July 2019 under the “Hydropower Development Investment Program”.

Balakot Hydropower Project is a run-of-river scheme to be constructed on Kunhar River, with power generation capacity of 300 MW with average annual energy production of 1143 GWh, and to evacuate it through a system of sub-station and transmission line for interconnection with the national and regional grids. The Project is located on the Kunhar River in the 12 km stretch from Paras to Sangarh village in Kaghan Valley, between Balakot and Kaghan, in Manshera district of KP, Pakistan. The dam site (34° 39' 36.510" N, 73° 27' 1.340" E) is located near the village of Parasand the powerhouse site (34° 36' 15.143" N, 73° 22' 49.943" E) is located near Kappi Gali Village. The headrace tunnel extending more than 9.1 km will divert water from the reservoir created by the dam to the powerhouse. Access road to the dam structure and power intake is proposed to start at the Sharan Road, which connects to the National Highway N–15 on the left side of the Kunhar River, nearby Paras village.

Salient Features

Current Status

Challenges Faced During Implementation

·       Delay due to Possession of land

·       Suspension of Work due to Security issues

·       Delays on part of EPC Contractor

Challenges Faced During 2022-23

·       As above