Name of Project:     Construction of 356 mini & micro hydropower plants (Phase-I)

Brief:

The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the Energy & Power department had started implementation of 356 Mini & Micro Hydro Power Projects in 2014/15 across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through its own funding under the HDF. The aim was to address the requirements of electricity of the deprived population of the province. The aim of the Government was to electrify the off grid areas (including those subject to excessive load shedding) on fast track basis through developing the indigenous hydropower potential by construction of MHP plants. The envisaged installed generation capacity was 34.7 MW was initially planned however later on during implementation stage 24 MHP projects were found to be technically & socially not feasible and were dropped in revised PC-I, hence making the revised number of projects to 332 with generation capacity of 32.5MW.

Salient Features:

Location:                       11 Northern Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Number of Projects:       332 (32.5 MW)

PC-I Cost:                      PKR 5,250.19 Million

Physical Start:                April, 2015

Expected Completion:    Dec, 2021

Consultant:                     Consulting Associates Peshawar

Implementation status as of September 2021:

Objectives

The main objective of development of the Mini/ Micro Hydropower is to develop cheap hydropower potential and to provide more reliable and consistent power to local areas specially those which are deprived of electricity. The project is to provide adequate facilities for the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy keeping in view the present severe power shortage and future requirements for industrial, agricultural and economic development of the country.

To develop the power potential available in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on sustainable basis and thus provide renewable and most needed electrical power, keeping in mind the social and economic up lift of the inhabitants of rural and remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which are either totally deprived of electricity or partially connected to grid but are exposed to excessive load shedding.

Optimum utilization of water resources available in northern part of the KPK addressing energy needs of poor population of far flung remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Provision of low cost, locally managed and environment friendly electricity and avoiding ecological damage /Greenhouse effects.

Benefits

The development of these projects would lead to the sustainable supply of electricity and would serve as a catalyst for development of basic industry. The project will provide opportunities to local communities for enhancements of economic activities through establishments of small scale industries.

Project will create employment opportunities and Growth/uplift of socio-economic conditions of the targeted population.

These Hydel projects will play an important role in local vicinity economy due to utilization of indigenous energy resources, in reducing load shedding and saving of foreign exchange required to import fuel for small scale purposes etc.

The development of these projects will discourage migration of population from rural to urban areas.

The project will reduce supply demand gap at national level perspective.

To inculcate concept of self-reliance in the installation as well as operative and maintenance of these plants.