Tariff sought for hydropower project

KARACHI: Sapphire Hydro Limited has approached National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) seeking feasibility stage for its 150MW hydropower plant, Sharmai hydropower project, being setup in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an estimated cost of $400.7 million.

NEPRA would conduct a hearing in this regard on December 18, 2019. The company has sought a 50-year levelised tariff of US cents 8.1015/kWh.

Geographically, Pakistan has been blessed with river flows that are naturally supportive to electricity generation. Country already derives around 27.17 percent of its energy from hydroelectricity.

The presence of hydroelectricity in Pakistan is set to grow, as only approximately 7,320MW of the country's estimated 60,000MW hydro potential has so far been exploited.