Chitral now has 16mw of surplus electricity

Time to celebrate: A man distributes sweets in Chitral bazaar.–GH Faroqui[/caption] According to Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), the project worth over Rs29 billion has started generation with first unit of 36 MW that will provide electricity three times more than the need of Chitral city. Surplus energy will be added to the national grid after being evacuated by the distribution, transmission and dispatch system developed exclusively by Wapda under its own financial arrangement for the first time. “It is a matter of pride for the locals in particular and the nation in general that the whole Chitral will have almost double of its total electricity requirement that is about 20 MW. The residents of Chitral and Drosh have celebrated the event since they spent the first day without loadshedding,” Wapda Chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain said.

Need of Chitral, Drosh and Upper Chitral is seven MW to eight MW, eight MW and four MW, respectively, while they now have around 36 MW.

Wapda terms the power generation from the project a historic development, which is a significant step towards stable supply of electricity to Chitral and the adjacent areas. The Wapda chairman said the second unit of 36 MW would start generation in March followed by the third and last having the similar installed capacity of 36 MW in May.–Dawn]]>