PESHAWAR - To meet the growing demand of electricity, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs 1137.396 million for launching several power generation projects in the province.
The budgetary document stated that the government has signed a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the development of Hydropower Potential in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the total revised cost of which is Rs.6026.41 million. Under this project, SHYDO will construct two new projects having a total installed capacity of 20 MW. These projects are under various stages of implementation and will be completed during next three (3) years.
In addition, Daral Khwar HPP with capacity of 36 MW having estimated cost of Rs 6958.42 million will be funded through Hydel Development Fund and ADP. It has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on 30-04-2012 and will be completed in three years. It will generate annual revenue of Rs. 1 billion for the Province. Matiltan HPP (Swat) with capacity of 84 MW will be launched in May 2012.  Under the same loan, SHYDO has also conducted feasibility studies of Koto Hydro power project in Lower Dir with production capacity of 31 mega watt, Karoar Shangla with production of Mega Watt and Jabori with production capacity seven Mega Wat.
These three projects with total installed capacity of these three Hydro Power Projects is 48 MW. Construction work on these projects will start during Financial Year 2012-13 and will be completed during next five years. The PC-1’s for these sites have been cleared by PDWP and consultants will be appointed during current financial year.
SHYDO has also conduted Pre-Feasibility study of 10 raw sites in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The Pre-Feasibility study of these 10 sites has been copmleted in Decemeber 2011 and these sites will be offered to private sector for development.
The Chief Minister has issued special directives for the implementation of action plan to address the acute energy crises in the country. Energy and Power Department has prepared and the Provincial Government has got the approval the Action Plan 2011-2025 from the Honorable Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under which SHYDO will construct (8) Hydel Projects having installed capacity of 628 MW. These project include Matiltan Hydro Power Project (HPP) in swat with capicity 84 Mega watt, Sharmai HPP Dir with capacity of 115 Mega Watt, Koto HPP with 31 Megawatt, Kharrora HPP in Kohistan with total capacity 10 Mega Watt, Jabori HPP in Mansehra with total eight Mega Watt, Shushai Zhendoli HPP Chitral 132 Megawatt Lawi HPP Chitral 69 Megawatt.
On the request of Provincial Government, WAPDA has handed over the Feasibility study of 69 MW Lawi HPP Chitral, which has been included in the ADP 2011-12. The PC-I for the construction of Lawi HPP has been submitted to ECNEC for approval and work on Lawi HPP will be started in July 2012. The land acquisition process of the Project is in progress.
In addition to construction projects, SHYDO have also started feasibility study of the 13 Hydel Power Projects with potential of 1322 MW installed capacity. The PC-II’s for feasibility studies of these thirteen projects have been approved by PDWP, The construction of these projects will be achieved during the period 2011-2025. The projects include Gahrit-Swir Lasht HPP in Chitral with production capacity 334 Megawatt, Korag Parait HPP Chitral with capacity 223 MW, Laspur Marigram Chitral with capacity 133 MW
Arkari Gol in Chitral with capacity 24 MW, Istaru Buni Hydro Power Project in Mujigram with capacity 51 MW, Barikot Patrak in Dir with capacity 34 MW, Patrak Shiringal HPP in Dir with 21 MW, Shigo Kach HPP in Dir 26 MW, Ghori Band HPP Shangla 14 MW, Nandihar HPP Batagram 10MW, Naram Dam HPP 21O MW, Balakot HPP in Mansehra with 190 MW.
Moreover the Provincial Government has given top priority to Energy and Power sector to explore hydel resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In this regards substantial amount of Net Hydel Profit has been transferred to Hydel Development Fund.
Beside Hydel resources, the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been blessed with large reserves of Oil and Gas. After 18th Amendment Provincial Government has equal share with the Federal Government in all the forthcoming production regarding Oil and Gas. Keeping in view the Eighteenth Amendment Provincial Cabinet has given the approval of establishment of Oil and Gas Exploration Company. This Company will be registered soon with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan and other relevant institutions.