SIALKOT, Mar 31 (APP): The power projects including Neelam-Jhelum, Golan
Goal and Tarbela-4, will add 3,000 megawatts of energy to the national grid till the end of 2017.
This was stated by Chairman Wapda Zafar Mehmood while talking to the newsmen here Thursday.
The chairman said the Wapda was developing its own resources for ensuring the maximum power generation and completion of Bhasha Dam and Dasu Dam projects.
He said very high cost of establishment of Basha Dam was the main hurdle in inordinate delay of starting Basha Dam project, adding that this project will cost US$ 14 billion.
He said the WAPDA had planned to establish the structure of the Basha Dam through its own resources.
The chairman said the Wapda would soon borrow US$ 1.4 billion in April 2016 from the market through the consortium of banks led by the Habib Bank Limited (HBL).
He said the Wapda would also generate US $ 100 billion for the construction of Neelam-Jhelum power project through a banking consortium led by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).
He said the first turbine of 242 megawatts of this project would start power generation in 2017, as this project would have total four power turbines.
He said the first phase of construction of Dasu Dam would be completed in 2021.
Earlier, talking to exporters at the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the chairman said the government was making all out efforts to give the maximum relief to the industrial sector by reducing duration of loadshedding in the country.
President SCCI Maj (Retd) Mansur Ahmed, VP Syed Ehtesham Gillani, Chairman Sialkot Dry Port Trust (SDPT) Khawar Anwar Khawaja, former SVP Mian Muhammad Anwar and Mian Mohsin Gull were also present.