PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The KP government, in order to get rid of loadshedding, has decided to embark upon an ambitious plan of launching hydro and solar power projects, says a press release issued from the CM House.
Similarly, a decision has also been made to announce attractive incentives for large scale investment in hydel power generation and alternate energy resources. In this regard, talks with Saudi and American companies have been started who intended to invest $2 billion in hydel generation sector.
Similarly, the hiring of consultancy firm to review matters relating to possible handing over of the control of WAPDA PESCO to the province by the federal government has started work on feasibility report negotiation would be started with the wherein federal govt in light of this report to have control on it and provide uninterrupted power to the commercial and domestic consumers on much lesser rates.
A plan was also being pursued to attract large scale investment in hydropower and other alternative means of energy to the tune of Rs.12 trillion till the year 2025. The decisions were taken in the meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa department of Power & Energy held here with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair at Chief Minister’s Secretariat Peshawar.
Those who attended the meeting included Minister Energy & Power Mohammad Atif Khan, Secretary Energy & Power Sahibzada Saeed Ahmad, CEO PEDO Bahadar Shah, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) KPOGDCL Raziuddin, Chief Planning Officer Zainullah Shah, and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mohammad Ishfaq Khan.
The Chief Minister directed the authorities of the recently established Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company Limited (KPOGDCL) for the best utilization of the allocated resources to arrest the prevailing energy crisis, initiating hydropower projects and taking emergency measures for its timely completion. He said that such measures would not only help in speedy control over energy shortage in the province, but would also generate maximum economic and employment opportunities to put the people on the track of progress and prosperity.
He said that besides, hydel resources the Almighty Allah has blessed the province with precious oil, gas, coal and solar resources. He said that maximum exploration of these resources for the development of the province is among the top most priorities of the present PTI-led provincial government and for this purpose, he said, his government is burning mid nights and to achieve the set targets.
Pervez Khattak deplored that previous rulers in the province paid no attention for better utilization of these precious resources that has plunged the province today in to severe energy crisis. The meeting decided that under first phase of the energy plan, the provincial government would establish 356 small hydel power stations at village and town levels in the province with cost of Rs.12 b whereas Rs.6.70 billion have been allocated for it.
For this purpose, he said, small community hydel power stations would be established on streams, canals and rivers near villages while oil, gas and solar resources would also be utilized for generating energy to get the local residents rid of the curse of load shedding.
In next phase, he said, the huge hydel and thermal potentials would be used to establish big power stations for industrial purpose. The energy produced by these projects on big scales, he said, would be supplied to already present or newly established industrial estates at district and regional levels for the promotion of cottage and large industries, generate employment opportunities and boost economic activities in the province.
This plan was inaugurated through PTI chairman Imran Khan by laying foundation stone of 56KW Sakhra Lalkahoo micro hydel station in Tehsil Matta Swat on August 7 this year. It was revealed the CM will also lay foundation stones of 12 MW micro stations at Karora Shangla, 10 MW at Jabori Mansehra by 1st week of November and 40 MW at Koto in Dir Lower. Pervez Khattak however took strong cognizance of undue delay in approval of PC-I of two crucial hydel generation projects of 69 MW Lawi Chitral and 84 MW Matiltan Swat.
He showed his acute concern that provincial govt has allocated Rs.46 billion for these important energy schemes but delaying only the PC-I for months and years would not only result in lapsing the amount but it also clearly indicated the non-cooperation of the federal govt in overcoming the deepening energy crisis. He lamented that federal govt of PML-N remained in forefront of leveling continuous allegations against KP govt of non-utilization of development funds and lapse of money while a baseless and misleading white-paper was also published against PTI-led coalition govt but on the other hand the center and its planning commission failed to discharge the simple formality of approving the PC-I file of KP govt that he said indicated the difference between words and actions of the federal govt.