LAHORE: Initial construction work on the components of the 106MW Golen Gol hydroelectric power project will begin in February 2011.
The construction of WAPDA offices and colonies for the project is already underway and is now at the advanced stage. The dam and powerhouse will be constructed through a joint venture of SAMBU-SARCO of South Korea. Proposals of a joint venture with Fichtner of Germany taking the lead alongside a Swiss and three Pakistani companies are being evaluated and will be finalised soon.
Golen Gol Hydropower Project is a part of low cost energy generation plan, being executed by WAPDA on a priority basis to harness indigenous hydroelectric resources of the country with a view to improve the ratio of hydel electricity in the national grid.
The project is located along the Golen Gol River, a major tributary of the Mastuj River in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province about 380 kilometers from Islamabad. Saudi Development Fund, Kuwait Development Fund and the OPEC Fund are providing financing of $107 million for the project. On its completion, Golen Gol Hydropower Project will generate about 436 million units of electricity (Gwh) annually and earn revenue of about Rs one billion. It is an environment-friendly hydroelectric project; it will reduce dependence on expensive thermal power, thereby saving foreign exchange amounting to $34 million (equivalent to Rs 2.7 billion).
