Dasu Hydropower Project: international experts discuss recommendations with Wapda, World Bank

The international panel of experts for Dasu Hydropower Project discussed their recommendations about the work done on the project so far during their visit to Wapda House on Monday. The meeting, presided over by Chairman Wapda, Syed Raghib Shah, was also attended by the senior representatives of the World Bank, the project consultants, Wapda members and other senior officers concerned.
Addressing the meeting, chairman Wapda said that addition of a sizeable quantum of low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid is vital not only for mitigating power shortages in the country, but also decreasing dependence on costly imported fuel for electricity generation. For the purpose, he said, Wapda is simultaneously working on the prioritised 4500MW-Diamer Bhasha Dam Project and 4320MW-Dasu Hydropower Project in addition to a number of other under-construction projects.
Besides initiating construction work on Diamer-Bhasha Dam as early as possible, Wapda also plans to undertake Dasu Hydropower Project in various stages, he added. While appreciating the recommendations made by the international panel of experts, the chairman said that their reports are valuable to strengthen technical, environmental and social aspects of the project.
He said that the recommendations would be looked into as per best international practices. It is pertinent to mention that detailed engineering design of Dasu Hydropower Project will be finalised by March, this year. The World Bank senior representative expressed keen interest in the financing of project and said that the WB will send its appraisal mission for Dasu Project in March-April, this year.
The Chairman thanked the World Bank for showing its interest to provide funds for Dasu Hydropower Project, adding that the World Bank has been a reliable partner for construction of various Wapda projects. It is worth mentioning that Dasu Hydropower Project is proposed to be constructed on River Indus, 7 kilometres upstream of Dasu village in Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.