ISLAMABAD, June 18 (INP): Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Friday reached Dasu to review construction work at the dam site.
Speaking to the foreign engineers and the workers engaged with the project, PM Imran Khan said Dasu Dam will yield fruits for Pakistan and termed it as one of the biggest projects.
The premier said the project will generate cheaper electricity to cater to the country’s power needs. “Cheaper electricity will provide relief to the people and will help in reducing the inflation as costly energy always bring inflation.”
He extended good wishes to the staff working on the project and added that the nation stands firmly united with them in this difficult task.
It is to be noted that the work on Dasu dam has been accelerated by the present government as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to ensure better utilization of the country’s water resources. Despite Covid-19, work on the project is continuing by adhering to the Standard operating procedure (SOPs).
Dasu Hydropower Plant is being constructed on the Indus River, 74 kilometres downstream of Bhasha Dam site in district Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Phase one of Dasu dam will be completed by 2025 which will add 2160 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. This capacity will increase to 4320 megawatts with the completion of its second phase by 2029.
The project will help to lower the overall cost of energy generation in Pakistan, benefiting millions of energy users by making electricity more affordable for households and productive sectors.
Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is implementing the project, which is estimated to cost $4.2bn. The hydro facility is planned to enter service in 2023.
World Bank Pakistan country director Illango Patchamuthu said: “Pakistan’s energy sector is aiming to move away from high-cost and inefficient fossil fuels towards low-cost, renewable energy to power the national grid.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Farrukh Habib on Friday said the first phase of 2160MW Dasu Hydropower Project would start power generation by April 2025.
In a tweet, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan would review the progress in Dasu Hydropower Project being constructed upstream Indus River in Upper Dir district, Kohistan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The total power generation capacity of Dasu Hydropower Project is 4320MW. It would be completed in two phases.
First phase will be completed at the cost of Rs511 billion. Some 80 percent of the project cost of the first phase will be borne by Wapda and remaining 20 percent will be provided by the World Bank.
He said the project would inject Rs12 billion unit cheap and environment-friendly power in the national grid, besides creating 8,000 jobs.
The work on 10 sites of the project was being continued despite Covid-19 pandemic, he said adding that Rs17.34 billion is being spent in the project area for the development of local people as confidence building measure. NNI
