Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Punjab Province plan to develop “clusters” of small hydropower projects under a proposed renewable energy sector development investment program of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The ADB is considering a proposal to provide a US$100 million loan for the program to develop indigenous, non-polluting, renewable sources of energy to help meet Pakistan’s power shortage and to diversify power sources.
Under an initial set of sub-projects, ADB said NWFP would develop a cluster of small hydropower plants from perennial high-head rivers that are abundant in the province. Additionally, Punjab would develop a cluster of low-head, perennial high-flow small hydro plants in an existing irrigation canal system.
The ADB completed management review of the proposed project. It indicated requirements for goods and consultant services remained to be determined.
“The scope may get expanded to cover other renewable sources as well as other provinces in the future,” an ABD project listing said. “An effort will also be made for capacity development of renewable energy sector related agencies.”
The ADB project officer is P. Abeygunawardena, Energy Division, SARD, Asian Development Bank, P.O. Box 789, 0980 Manila, Philippines; (63) 2-6326363; E-mail: [email protected].
For information, contact:
o Government of North West Frontier Province, Director Bahadur Shah, Planning &Facilitation, 372 WAPDA House, Shami Road, Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan; (92) 91-9212026; Fax: (92) 91-9211988; E-mail: [email protected];
o Alternative Energy Development Board, Mujahid Sadiq, Head, International Assistance Management Office, B-344, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Constitution Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan; (92) 51-9207594; Fax: (92) 51-9205790; E-mail: [email protected];
o Government of Punjab, Chief Engineer Muhammad Yaqoob, Department of Irrigation and Power, Lahore, Pakistan; E-mail: [email protected].
