AJK to be blessed with first ever largest private-sector 1100 MW Kohala Hudro Power Project soon

MIRPUR: A high level meeting reviewed on Thursday the fast-track development of Kohala Hydro Power Project in Muzaffarabad district, it was officially declared.

Additional Chief Secretary Dr Tashfeen Khan presided over the meeting.

Highlighting the salient features of the mega project, experts brief the meeting that 1100 MW Kohala Hydro Power Project was the biggest in history being developed in private sector.

It is one of the three CPEC projects in AJK. The other two hydro power projects included 640 MW Kerote and 590 MW Mahl. All the three projects comprises the total strength of 2330 Mega Watts. Things are moving fast on these projects.

Famous Three Gorges Company of China with its three subsidiaries - Kohala Hydro Power Company, Kerote Hydro Power Company & Mahl Hydro Power Company - is developing these projects on fast track basis. This will allay the notions that private sector cannot develop mega hydels.

Expected to complete in a period of five years these projects are going to bring about a huge impact in country's energy-mix, by inducting cheap energy and bringing down energy price, besides bringing a big boost to AJK's economy in shape of Water Use Charges to be paid for 25 years and after 25 years two projects (Kohala and Mahl) will be handed over to AJK.

Experts termed the advent of all the three projects a major break through in AJK's Energy Sector.

A very conservative estimate tells us that on completion of these projects will bring 3-4,000 millions of annual income to AJK. And, after 25 years AJK will get dividends equivalent more that two Mangla Dams.