ISLAMABAD:100 villages to be electrified through solar power

Associated Press of Pakistan

 Ministry of Water and Power would electrify around 100 villages through solar energy this year as part of its programme to ensure electricity in every part of the country.

The official said a project has already been approved to electrify 400 remote villages of Sindh and Balochistan through solar energy. Around 49 villages (3000 households) have been electrified in district Tharparker using solar energy through government own funds.

Moreover, 100 Solar Home Systems in three villages of district Dera Bugti, 119 Solar Home Systems in 10 villages of Deh Tiko Baran district Jamshoro, Sindh and 200 Solar Home Systems in 16 Villages of district Khuzdar, Balochistan are also being installed through which thousands of people would be facilitated.

Public sector hydro plants with generation capacity of 347 MW will be added to the system at a cost of US$ 500 million and 1700 MW of high efficiency public sector thermal generation would start generation between end 2010 and up to 2012. The outlay for these projects is estimated as US$ 1.5 billion.

The official further informed that WAPDA has been assigned construction of 32 small and medium dams in four provinces and FATA. The plan will be implemented in two phases as in first phase (2009-2013) 12 dams and in second phase 20 dams will be constructed during the period 2010-2014.

When asked whether there is any proposal to get 1100 Megawatt electricity from Iran to control power crisis, the official said two possible projects of electricity imports are being processed. Giving details, the official said import of 100 MW power from Iran for Gawadar which includes construction of a 220 KV Grid Station at Gawadar and 75 km associated 220 KV double Circuit Transmission Line from Pak-Iran Border to Gawadar.

The project is intended to be financed by Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) for which negotiation with the Bank are in progress. The Project is expected to be completed by year 2011.

The other project is import of 1000 MW power from Iran for the National Grid.