ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to perform the groundbreaking of 147MW Patrind hydropower project in Azad Kashmir on Aug 15.

The Korea Water Resources Corporation of South Korea is the sponsor and developer of the country’s second independent hydropower project in the private sector.

The firm, commonly known as K-Water, has already started work on the project processed by the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB).

The project is expected to start commercial operation in 2017 at an estimated investment of $362 million.

The first independent hydropower project in the private sector – New Bong Escape of 84MW – was inaugurated by the prime minister last week.

A government official said the PPIB was expediting another hydropower project of 100MW – Gulpur hydro project – in the private sector. It will be completed by December 2017.

He said the PPIB had inducted 29 independent projects and three power policies. It was providing about 8,657MW of electricity at a cost of $9.2 billion to the national grid, which was more than 50 per cent of the country’s total generation capacity, he pointed out.

The official said that five big projects of 3,800MW – Karrot hydro of 720MW, Suki Kinari hydro of 840MW, Azad Pattan of 640MW, Chakothi Hattian of 500MW and Kohala of 1,100MW – were also under various stages of processing. These are expected to be completed by 2020.

The feasibility study of 590MW Mahal hydropower project has also been completed and it is in the prequalification stage to attract investment for construction.The focus of investment in the energy sector has now been shifted to hydropower generation to produce cheaper electricity and improve overall energy mix and tariff affordability.

The government is also working on coal and some co-generation projects of 1,200MW through the PPIB.

The official said that investment conferences and road shows were being planned in several world capitals in the next few months to attract quality investors in the power sector.