GILGIT, July 11: Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has identified various sites in the Northern Areas that have the potential to produce 5,348MW of electricity aimed at meeting future electricity requirements of the country.

This was stated by Secretary Wapda Masroor Abbasi while briefing Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Northern Areas and SAFRON Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao about the sites.

In addition to that Northern Areas Public Works Department (NAPWD) has identified 12 potential sites that have the capacity to produce 54MW of hydropower at the cost of $66.36 million, while 14 ongoing projects would produce 46MW of electricity by 2006.

This will enable the NAPWD to supply 100 per cent electricity to entire Northern Areas.

Total energy requirements of the Northern Areas are about 100MW, while only 44MW is available in summer and 26MW in winter. Naltar hydropower project, which will be completed by 2006 at the cost of Rs1.3 billion, would generate 18MW of power, including 28kilometers of 66KV transmission lines.

Aftab Sherpao directed the NAPWD to allocate Rs20 million for purchase of 11MW diesel generator in order to overcome load shedding in Gilgit city.

He also directed to allocate Rs80 million in the annual development programme to add 2MW of electricity from Jaglote Gah hydropower project.—APP