Islamabad: China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC) has been tasked with the construction of the Kohala Hydropower Project (KHPP), a news source reported. This development is part of the Sino-Pak cooperative partnership concerned with building the country’s energy sector. Situated along the Neelum-Jhelum river network, KHPP construction is expected to cost around USD 2.7 billion.
Reportedly, the project will be completed as per the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model. Its transfer to Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) will take place free of cost after thirty years of operation.
Sources report that the construction work will take six and half years. The process of construction is expected to create thousands of jobs, with the water charges and taxes offering a steady income to the AJK government. The project’s ‘community investment plan’ is anticipated to lead to a thriving local society.
From the Pakistani end, the Kohala Hydro Company (Pvt Ltd) (KHCL) will manage KHPP; the company’s largest hydropower project till date. CTGC is the parent company of KHCL, and it reportedly operates on the most advanced scientific ecological concept in hydropower project design & development – in compliance with international standards. Additionally, the company keeps a check on all its projects for their environmental impact.
Previously, KHCL carried out an Environmental & Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Study and minimum water flow (Ecological-Flow) assessment of 30m3/s in collaboration with a reputable consultant for the project. The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) reviewed the assessment, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of AJK government gave the final approval. The approval came in the form of an official No-Objection Certificate (NOC) following two public hearings. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) verified the NOC.
Polls held in AJK show that the majority of residents of Muzaffarabad district, along with locals from the adjoining villages, support KHPP. They believe that the project will strengthen the economy, and help in alleviating poverty.
