Chinese plans for investment in the hydel power sector of Pakistan are set to receive a major shock, as the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power was informed on Tuesday that WAPDA had decided that only European machinery would be installed at under construction hydel power plants. The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Lashkari Raisani andf attended by senators Zahid Khan and Sardar Ali Khan.
WAPDA representatives informed the committee that the decision was made by the WAPDA chairman after the Chinese equipment installed at 81MW Malakand III hydro power station went out of order last year. They said the Chinese had rectified two machines which were generating 51MW, while the third one would require additional five months to become operational. Many of the under construction hydel power projects are being developed by Chinese companies with Chinese financial assistance.
Pakistan has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC) for the construction of 7,100MW Bunji Hydropower and 1,100MW Kohala hydropower projects last year. The government recently awarded the run of the river 1,100MW Kohala Hydropower project to CTGPC, which is also interested in investing in the 720MW Karot hydel power project and 4,500MW Diamer Bhasha hydropower project.
