NCC-FFP on energy sector informed: ‘Long-standing land acquisition issue of CASA-1000 transmission line resolved’

ISLAMABAD: The National Coordination Committee on Foreign-Funded Projects (NCC-FFP) on energy sector was informed, on Wednesday that the long-standing land acquisition issue of Central Asia-South Asia Regional Trade and Transmission Project (CASA-1000) transmission line at Nowshera is successfully resolved and the contractor has now been mobilised on the project site.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan chaired the meeting of the NCC-FFP on energy sector at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and emphasised expeditious completion of power projects.

The meeting was attended by Tabish Gauhar, SAPM on Power and Petroleum, Noor Ahmed, secretary EAD, Ali Raza Bhutta, secretary Power Division, and senior officials of Planning Commission, NTDC and DISCOs.

During the meeting, the Committee discussed 14 ongoing projects of the energy sector including power generation, transmission and distribution amounting to $3.4 billion funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Islamic Development Bank, the World Bank, France, Germany, Japan, and the USA.

The Minister for Economic Affairs stated that the government was taking various measures to develop a more reliable and efficient power generation, transmission and distribution system in the country.

Furthermore, the government is committed to unleash immense potential of renewable energy resources including solar, wind and hydel to provide affordable and environment-friendly electricity.

Tabish Gauhar, the SAPM shared the progress made by the Power Division and reiterated their commitment to resolve the bottlenecks and ensure smooth and timely implementation of the development projects.

The Power Division apprised that the long-standing land acquisition issue of CASA-1000 transmission line at Nowshera is successfully resolved and the contractor has now been mobilised on the project site.

An official said that the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) is undertaking construction of a 113-kilometre electricity transmission line from the Pak-Afghan border to Nowshera.

The project is expecting to be completed by the end of next year.

The CASA-1000 project is a power transmission line that is expected to export excess hydropower generated in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.

Transmission components under the project are being financed by the IsDB, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Britain’s Department for International Development and USAID at a total cost of $1.17 billion.

Further, significant progress on land acquisition for Dasu transmission line at Islamabad west is achieved.

The NTDC has initiated land acquisition process for the construction of 765/220 kV grid station at Mansehra.

The 765/220 kV Grid Station Mansehra is part of 765 kV Dasu transmission line project for evacuation of power from 2,160 MW Dasu Hydro power project stage-I.

The power evacuation from Dasu Hydro Project includes construction of 250km long 765 kV double circuit Hexa (6) Bundle transmission line from Dasu HPP to Islamabad via Mansehra along with 765/220kV grid station at Mansehra and 765/500/220/132kV grid station at Islamabad.

It was also informed that the NTDC is working on five grid stations at Mirpurkhas, Zhob, Lahore North, Jauharabad and Maira under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) financing, and the progress on these projects is now picking up.

The minister directed the relevant authorities to identify the critical path and set timelines for expeditious implementation of the development projects.

He also emphasised adopting latest technologies and GIS for monitoring of development projects in the country.

The minister appreciated the efforts of the Power Division and line departments for improved implementation of foreign-funded projects in the energy sector.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021