LAHORE: Construction work on the 108MW Golen Gol Hydropower Project has been expedited, while reliability of test run for Unit No 1 of the project dedicated to Chitral district is expected to be commissioned in October 2017.

This was told to Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Zafar Mahmood during his visit to the project site on Monday.

The chairman was also told that efforts were being made to complete the first unit by June 2017.

During the visit, the chairman had a detailed round of various sites of the project, including weir (dam), diversion tunnel, power house, switch yard and transmission line to review construction work.

On the occasion, the chairman said speedy completion of hydropower projects, including Golen Gol, was necessary to get rid of power shortages in the country and lowering the tariff for consumers.

He also mentioned that the prime minister had already instructed Wapda to provide 30 megawatts to Chitral district, as it needed electricity urgently after damage to the hydel facility in 2015 floods.

Expressing satisfaction over the project’s civil works, Mr Mahmood directed the authorities concerned to expedite electro-mechanical works as well. Similarly, he said, timely completion of the transmission line was also of equal importance, so that electricity generated by the project after its completion could be added to the national grid.

Earlier, general manager (projects), North, briefed the chairman about progress on the project. He also apprised him of the issues being faced, particularly the financial ones.

The project is being constructed on River Golen Gol, a tributary of River Mastuj. On completion, the project will contribute 442 million units of low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid annually.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2016