KP official looking forward to ‘great learning experience’ with CGGC experts

by Khalid Aziz

ISLAMABAD, July 13 (Gwadar Pro) - The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO) expects to receive the first tranche of the $300 million ADB loan for construction of 300MWs Balakot hydropower project during the current week, an official of the KP’s energy development arm told Gwadar Pro on Monday.

The KP government has signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for construction of the run-of-the-river facility with China Gezhouba Group, the largest energy project of the province so far.

ADB has approved $300 million for  HPP while the KP government has also sought another $280 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

“During the past week, we received NOC from the environmental department and opinion of the federal law ministry, and submitted the documents with the ADB to fulfil pre-requisites of the loan agreement,” said a senior official of PEDO, adding that the ADB will issue part of the loan during this week.

After receiving the first tranche, CGGC will bring its team of geologists to start a geological survey of the project site for the engineering design of the HPP, he added. CGGC will also involve a team of local geologists, who will have a great opportunity to work with Chinese experts, who have vast global experience in the field, he said.

He said that the KP government never executed such large-scale projects before. Also, the project involves very complicated underground structures to be built in a high-risk seismic zone. “It means it will require expertise and advance technology to which KP government’s officials have no prior exposure, he said. Therefore, our colleagues at PEDO feel enthusiastic about working with high-profile Chinese experts on modern technology,” the official noted. “It will provide us with a big deal of learning from our Chinese fellows.”