7 to 15 megawatts capacity: Sindh government plans small hydel power projects on Indus River

With a view to overcoming electricity shortage, Sindh government has planned to initiate small hydel power projects having capacity of 7 to 15 megawatts on Indus River through Public Private Partnership (PPP), Business Recorder has learnt on Thursday. Sindh power department had decided to hire a private firm to make feasibility reports of small hydel power plants, sources said.
The department had forwarded a summary in this regard to Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah for final approval a few weeks back. After the approval, the private firm would start its work and has to complete the proposed work within 8 months, sources added. According to sources, Earnst and Young, a private firm has to conduct survey on the Indus River and to identify 6 top sites for installation of hydel power projects.
The firm has to select machinery which to be used on identified sites and will also conduct environmental survey in this regard, sources said. According to experts there are many sites on Indus River which have the potential to generate 8 to 15 MW electricity through hydel power plants. Experts say if the Sindh government would accelerate its work in this regard, it could control persistent load shedding which is causing numerous problems.
When contacted, Secretary Power Rabia Javeria Agha told Business Recorder that accelerated development of energy resources is one of the top priorities of Sindh government as ever-mounting electricity shortage is major bottleneck hindering growth of provincial economy. She said there is a big space in hydro generation field so that power department is trying to fill this gape in collaboration with private sector.