Khyber Pakhtunkhwa floods hindered development of renewable energy projects

The devastated floods of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had hindered development of different renewable energy projects funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) during last financial year-2010-11. The white paper of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa department of Finance indicated that the provincial government had projected to complete a three hydel power projects (HPP) of total capacity of 48MW by end of July-2010, but it has been delayed because of focusing on post-floods recovery in the province.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had been diverted most of foreign assistance by freezing its provincial Annual Development programme (ADP) funds during last fiscal year 2010-12. The white paper indicated that the Sarhad Hydel Development Organisation (SHYDO), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated a revised feasibility study to restart construction work on the project in current fiscal year 2011-12 to meet growing energy needs of the province.
The paper said that the ADB had signed agreement with federal government to extend Rs 6026.41 million financial support for hydropower generation in potential areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Reflecting different hydel generation schemes in the white paper, Shydo has been started feasibility study of 13 hydel power projects with total capacity of 1322MW in the province under the ADB assisted plan. The hydel power projects (HPP), are included Gahrit-swir Lasht, Korag Parait, Laspur Marigram, Arkari Gol, Istaru-Buni, and Mujigram Shogo in district Chitral, while Barikot Patrak, Patrak Shringal, and Shigo Kach in district Dir, and Gorband (Shangla), Nandihar (Batagram), Naram Dam (Manshera), and Balakot (Manshera).
Shydo, had developed a three-year feasibility study for different renewable energy development projects to generate 48MW power in the province, including Koto HPP (Dir Lower) with capacity of 31MW, Karoro New HPP (Shangla)with capacity of 10MW, and Jabori HPP (Manshera) 7MW. In wake of last year flash floods, the provincial government had diverted ADP funds along with most of portion of foreign assistance to floods affected areas of the province. All developmental sectors had adversely affected in last year.
The white paper said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had implemented an action plan to overcome with acute energy shortage in the province. The energy and power department had already prepared a hydel development action plan for 2011-2025.
Under the action plan, seven different hydel power projects of total capacity of 524MW would initiate in the province, including Matiltan (Swat), Sharmai, Koto, in district Dir,Karora (Kohistan), Jabori (Manshera), Shushai-zhendoli and Shog Sin in district Chitral. Similarly, the Shydo is also engaged for development of pre-feasibility study of 10 raw sites in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkwa, which would be offered to private sector for development of 63MW power generation projects, after its finalisation by December-2011.