PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary Energy Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) is one of the major revenue generating agencies, generating 161 megawatts of ‘cheap’ electricity that would be extended to 224 MW by next year.
Addressing a review meeting on ongoing energy projects, Shah claimed that PEDO has generated Rs32 billion in revenue and its owes Rs40 billion to federal government. New employment opportunities are being created in the province by generating cheap electricity for local industries.
Secretary Energy added that additional power generation through net metering is saving millions of rupees in terms of electricity bills. He said 4440 mosques, 8000 schools and 187 basic health units (BHUs) are also being shifted to the solar energy while 13 solar mini-grids are being constructed to promote commercial activities in newly merged districts.
He said, In addition to this, 302 mini micro-hydel stations have been completed in KP’s backward areas where electricity is not yet available. “About 29 megawatts of electricity is being provided to the poor people at the village level,” Shah said in his address.
The Secretary Energy informed that 40.8 MW Koto hydropower project in Dir Lower, 11.8 MW Karora power project in Shangla, and 10.2MW Jabori power project Mansehra are in the final stages of completion. While the construction of others projects including 84 MW Matiltan power project in Swat, 69 MW Lawi power project in Chitral, 6.9 MW Barando power project I Torgarh and 10.5 MW Chapri Charkhel power project in Kurram are also in full swing.
He said that work on the World Bank’s financed projects in Swat Gabral in Kalam would also he started soon. He said, “These projects will prove a game changer for overcoming power crisis and stabilizing the economy. PEDO will emerged soon as mini WAPDA in KP owing to fast-track progress on power projects”.
