ISLAMABAD: France has
granted Euro 61 million (Rs. 8.5 Billion) funding for two hydropower projects
in Pakistan.
The two projects were
Mohmand hydropower project (740 MW) located in Mohmand agency, KPK and harpo
hydropower project (35 mw) in the Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu region.
Agreement to this
effect was signed by Ms. Nargis Sethi, Secretary of Economic Affairs Division
(EAD) and Philippe Thiebaud, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, and Denis
CASSAT, Country Director of the French Development Agency (AFD), under the
Credit Facility Agreements (CFAs) for the establishment of Pakistan 02
Hydropower projects.
This financing aims
at completing the 02 hydropower projects with a total capacity to produce 785
MW in the country, a statement issued by the French Embassy Islamabad said on
Wednesday.
The Mohmand / Munda
Hydropower project (740 MW) is located in the MOHMAND AGENCY, of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
The Phase- I of the
project being financed by AFD will enable the Government of Pakistan to
complete the detailed engineering design, preparatory works and financial
closure for construction of the project.
The Harpo hydropower
project (35 MW) located in the Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu region will enable the
Government of Pakistan to meet the future demand of the region and also to
establish the local distribution and transmission network which will benefit
the local community to get the uninterrupted power supply.
This project is being
financed with German Government and KFW.
These projects upon
completion will ensure adaptation of climate change (droughts and floods) in
the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially in the Peshawar and Noshawara region, improve
the resilience, safety and profitability of hydropower projects,besides these
projects France, through AFD, contributes to address the current national
energy crisis and emerges as a major contributor, in line with the pledge made
by the French Government at the Tokyo Conference in April 2009 (i.e. 300
millions Euros in the energy and water sectors - currently committed at 93%
i.e. 280 Million Euros).
The AFD is also
supporting the development of renewable energies in order to improve the power
supply in Pakistan.
The three projects
currently being developed are Jabban Hydropower Project (22 MW run-of-river
hydroelectric power plant near Dargi, KPK, 26.5 million Euros), Jaggran II
hydropower projects (48 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power plant on the
Jaggran river, Neelum Valley, AJK , 68 million Euros) and Hydropower Training
Institute (HPTI) at Mangla (Grant of 2.5 million Euros to establish centre of
excellence for hydropower in Pakistan).
In addition, to
reduce the power demand and improve energy efficiency, AFD is also co-financing
with the Asian Development Bank a programme on energy efficiency in the
domestic and industrial sectors.
For future, AFD is
also working with Pakistani authorities and is exploring additional potential projects
to fund the rehabilitation or the extension of hydropower plants in various
places in association with Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and
provincial operators like Power Development Organization (PDO) - AJK,
Pakhtunkhwa Hydel Development Organization (PHYDO), KPK, etc.
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