Energy crisis: WAPDA, WB discuss Dasu project
The experts on Monday put their recommendations for construction of Dasu Hydropower Project.
LAHORE: The International Panel of Experts for Dasu Hydropower Project Monday visited WAPDA House and held a meeting to discuss their recommendations about the work done on the project so far.
The meeting headed by WAPDA Chairman Syed Raghib Shah was also attended by the senior representatives of the World Bank, the project consultants, WAPDA Members and other senior officers concerned.
Addressing the meeting, the WAPDA Chairman said that addition of a sizeable quantum of low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid is vital not only for mitigating power shortages in the country but also decreasing dependence on costly-imported fuel for electricity generation.
For the purpose, he said, WAPDA is simultaneously working on the priortised 4500 MW-Diamer Basha Dam Project and 4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project.
Besides initiating construction work on Diamer Basha Dam as early as possible, WAPDA also plans to undertake Dasu Hydropower Project in various stages, he added.
While appreciating the recommendations made by the International Panel of Experts, the Chairman said that their reports are valuable to strengthen technical, environmental and social aspects of the project.
He said that the recommendations would be looked into as per best international practices.
Detailed engineering design of Dasu hydropower project will be finalisd by March this year.
It is worth mentioning that Dasu project is proposed to be constructed on River Indus, 7 kilometers upstream of Dasu village in Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On completion, the project will contribute about 21 billion units of low-cost electricity to the National Grid every year.
