300MW Balakot Hydropower project: Nepra initiates tariff determination

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has admitted a tariff petition filed by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) for the 300MW Balakot Hydropower Project and scheduled a public hearing on July 2, 2026.

According to a public notice issued by the regulator, the project is proposed to be established in Balakot, district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The installed capacity of the project is 300 megawatts, with auxiliary consumption estimated at 2 percent and a plant factor of 43.5 percent.

PEDO has sought a levelised tariff of Rs 17.7103 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for a control period of 30 years, equivalent to approximately 6.3576 US cents per kWh.

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The total estimated cost of the project has been projected at USD 612.56 million. Of this, USD 513.22 million has been allocated for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), while USD 22.10 million covers PEDO overheads, management costs and administrative charges. An amount of USD 57.09 million has been earmarked for land acquisition, resettlement, security and legal charges, whereas soft costs are estimated at USD 20.15 million.

NEPRA will conduct a public hearing on the petition on July 2, 2026 at 2:00pm at its headquarters in Islamabad.

The hearing will also be accessible via an online platform.

The Authority has invited all interested and affected parties to participate in the proceedings. Stakeholders may file intervention requests within seven days of the publication of the notice, in accordance with NEPRA’s Tariff Standards and Procedure Rules, 1998.

The regulator noted that comments from stakeholders would also be considered in the final determination of the tariff.

The Balakot Hydropower Project is part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s broader strategy to harness its hydropower potential and contribute to the national grid with low-cost renewable energy.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026