MANSEHRA: The Suki Kinari hydropower project has successfully completed the testing phase and is prepared to connect to the national grid, an official said on Wednesday.

“We have successfully tested power production and are ready to supply electricity to the national grid,” Suki Kinari project deputy director (technical) Bilal Khan told Dawn.

He, however, said the project had yet to start commercial power production and that would happen after it was linked to the national grid.

The official said a project was to connect first with the provincial grid and then with the national grid.

“Now after the completion of the testing phase, the Suki Kinari hydropower project is set for inauguration by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” he said.

Mr Khan said the agreement signed between the federal government and the dam’s management didn’t have any clause for supplying free electricity to residents.

Meanwhile, Hazara deputy inspector general of police Tahir Ayub Khan along with district police officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur visited the project’s site and reviewed security arrangements.

He directed law-enforcement agencies to be more vigilant to provide foolproof security to Chinese nationals working on the project.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024