PESHAWAR: KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the high ups of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) for necessary steps to complete all the arrangements and preparations to perform the ground breaking of 300 MW Balakot Hydro Power Project next month.
He expressed the hope that Prime Minister Imran khan will himself perform the ground breaking of this important project. He issued these directives while presiding over sixth Policy Board meeting of PEDO the other day, said an official news release issued here Saturday.
Besides Adviser to Chief Minister on Energy and Power, Himyataullah Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir, Secretary Energy Muhammad Zubair, Chief Executive Officer of PEDO and other concerned officials attended the meeting. The meeting gave go ahead to PEDO to award contract to the contract winning construction companies for the construction of Balakot Hydropower Station. The meeting reviewed the progress made on the implementation on the decisions taken in last meeting of the Policy Board.
The meeting was informed that the 300 MW Balakot Hydropower Project is a run-of-the-river project located on the river Kunhar. The total estimated cost of the project is 750 million dollar whereas the total cost of PC-1 approved by ECNEC is Rs. 85,912 million. The bidding process and hiring of contractors for the construction of the project has been completed and for this purpose a joint venture of two different construction companies has been formed.
The meeting also approved the joint venture of two construction companies and allowed PEDO to proceed with the process and sign the contract with the joint venture. The project will be executed in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and preparations are underway to lay the foundation stone in March this year.
The Chief Minister termed the project as a very important project of energy sector in the province, and directed the concerned authorities to complete all the arrangements and preparations on fast track.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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