Punjab I&P dept identifies 317 sites for hydel plants

Lahore: The Punjab Irrigation and Power Department has identified 317 suitable sites for setting up hydro-power generation plants in the province, developing additional energy resources, fetching 600 megawatts of additional electricity.

Punjab Irrigation and Power Secretary Babar Hassan Bharwana revealed when he briefed Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahamd, Punjab Revenue and Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Ministers Haji Muhammad Ishaq and Dr Tanveer-ul-Islam on Friday.

He apprised the ministers about the energy vision, emerging irrigation problems and steps to improve the canal infrastructure in the province. 'The places identified to set up hydro-power generation plants include 10 river-sites, which could produce 246 megawatts of electricity,' the secretary said.

Under Punjab power policy vision, he informed them that private sector, along with the public sector or independently, could set up power generation projects. 'Under the Article 157(2)(C) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, provinces have been allowed to develop power houses up to 50 megawatt,' he added.

The Punjab government has developed its own power generation policy and private sector is being encouraged to invest in energy sector. The government has issued letters of interest (LoI) to 10 different parties. The LoI has also been invited for setting up 4.8 MW power plant at Sahiwal.

According to rules, 67 months had been given for setting up a new power plant, which could be reduced, he said. He the I&P project of setting up five hydel power plants was ready to takeoff, for which PPMU had been set up. About setting up small dams in the Potohar region, the secretary said 46 small dams had already been developed, while 13 others were being developed.

'According to a detailed inventory conducted in 2006, total asset value of I&P infrastructure was 20 billion dollars, while 2.4 billion dollars were required to fully repair and rehabilitate the irrigation infrastructure in Punjab. 'I&P dept is following holistic reforms to achieve reforms targets,' he added.