PEDO, PESCO sign deal on provision of cheap electricity to industries

Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) Monday signed an agreement for provision of electricity produced by Pehur Hydel Power Project to industries on wheeling basis.

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan was also present on the occasion and witnessed the agreement signing ceremony. Other those present on the occasion were included Advisor to CM on Energy & Power Hamyatullah Khan, Secretary Energy & Power Muhammad Zubair Khan, Chief Executive PEDO Engr Naeem Khan, PESCO Chief Dr. Amjad Ali Khan and other officials.

Under the arrangement, 18 MW electricity produced by the Pehur will be provided to industries including Gadoon Textile Mills Limited, Cherat Packaging Limited, AG Textile Limited, Premier Chip Board Industries Limited and Cherat Cement Company Limited at a cheaper price to help revive local industries and attract investors to promote industrialization in the province.

The Wheeling Regime will not only generate Rs. 305 Million revenue every year but will also generate 3000 employment opportunities directly.

Addressing after the signing of agreement, the KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that the provincial government is taking practical steps to promote industrialization and attract investor.

The Chief Minister maintained that due to the successful policies of the incumbent government, 74 MW of electricity produced from hydel power stations in the province has successfully been included in the national grid which will generate Rs 1.9 billion revenue every year.

He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led provincial government is committed to exploit the hydel potential in the province for generating cheap electricity which will help in overcoming power shortages throughout the country and will also attract investors into the province thereby increasing the provincial revenue generation.

He stated that through investment friendly policies, the provincial government is attracting investors whereas full fledge implementation of energy and power action plan is also being carried out under which various hydel power projects have been completed whereas work progress is underway on numerous small, medium and large hydel power projects.

Mahmood Khan clarified that the Wheeling Model for provision of cheap electricity to industrial consumers and initiation of public private partnership is evidence enough that the incumbent government is committed to increase the provincial revenue generation through rapid industrialization and strengthening of communication networks.

Advisor to CM on Energy & Power Hamayatullah Khan, on this occasion, stated that the incumbent government has also planned four new public sector projects including Balakot Hydro Power project, Barikot, Patral Sheringal and Gabral Kalam Hydro power project in the energy sector on which construction work is expected to begin during the current fiscal year and will be completed in 2025.