ECNEC approves seven projects

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Monday considered and approved seven projects put forth by the ministry of planning, development and special initiatives.

Ecnec approved the Terbela 4th extension hydropower project revised PC I at the total cost of Rs122.9 billion. The objective of the project is the expansion of the present capacity of Terbela dam hydropower project from 3,478 megawatts to 4,888 MW (addition of 1,410 MW) by installation of three units of 470 MW on the existing irrigation tunnel 4.

“World Bank IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)/IDA (International Development Association) shall be providing 90 percent of the financing of the project ($692 million) and 10 percent of the financing shall be done by Wapda’s (Water and Power Development Authority) own resources,” the Ecnec said in a statement. The project is located in Swabi and Haripur districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ecnec also approved renewable energy development sector investment program (third revised) at the total cost of Rs12.8 billion with Rs8.84 billion as foreign exchange component (FEC). “The project shall be sponsored by the government of Punjab with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank.”

The main objective of the project is construction of hydel projects – Marala (7.64 MW), Chianwali (5.38 MW), Deg-Outfall (4.04 MW) and Pakpattan (2.82 MW) at Canal Falls of Punjab. The project also envisaged capacity building of Energy Department, Punjab and PC-II for additional feasibility studies/ construction of hydropower stations in Punjab.

The “evacuation of power from wind power projects at Jhimpir and Gharo wind clusters” revised PC-I at the total cost of Rs13.40 billion was also approved by Ecnec. The National Transmission and Despatch Company Ltd. will be the executing agency.

The main objective of the project is evacuation of 1,256MW power from the wind power plants installed at Jhimpir and Gharo wind clusters for supply of power to respective load centers of distribution company – Hyderabad Electric Supply Company – through transmission network of National Transmission Despatch Company.

“The project shall be financed by KfW (27 million Euros) and NTDC’s own resources. The expected time for the completion of the project is 33 months.”

Ecnec considered and approved the southern punjab poverty alleviation project-IFAD assisted, revised-III at the total cost of Rs15.52 billion with Rs7.5 billion as the FEC.