PESHAWAR, May 30: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has directed the Sarhad Hydel Development Organisation (SHDO) to accelerate work on hydro-electricity projects in the province. He was presiding over a meeting of the board of directors of the organisation here on Saturday, said a handout.

The chief minister was informed that the Malakand-III hydro power project would be completed by December this year and Pehur and Shishi power projects would be completed by December 2007. The projects will produce 81mw, 81mw and 2mw electricity, respectively.

The meeting was informed that installation of an additional 1.4mw unit in the Roshan hydro power house would be completed by June 2006.

New projects included the Dral Khwar (Swat), Ranolia, (Kohistan) and Mardan hydel power projects, said the handout. The projects will produce 35MW, 12 MW and 2.5mw power, respectively. The meeting was informed that the projects would be completed with the help of the Asian Development Bank. The Malakand project will cost Rs6.3 billion and the chief minister hoped the project would become profitable in five years.