ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: Pakistan has sought $800 million from international donors to help construct a massive Rs84.5 billion Neelum Jhelum hydroelectric project which after completion would generate 963 MW of electricity.

Informed sources told Dawn here on Tuesday that the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank were expected to extend $800 million to complete the new hydroelectric project by June 2011.

The work on the project was commenced in July 2003 but due to non-availability of funds, so far there was only 0.003 per cent financial progress. And the issue has been raised with the donor agencies through their offices in Islamabad. The project is located in Muzaffarabad.

The project included construction of 140m long and 47m high concrete gravity dam to divert 280 "cumec flow" of Neelum River through trans-mountainous headache tunnels to generate 696 MW hydroelectric power.

Sources said that feasibility study, engineering design and technical tender documents have been completed. PC-1 of the project has also been approved by the executive committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

Five international firms - Central China Power Group (CCPG), China International Water & Electric Corp (CWE), Sinohydro-ACL Joint Venture, Oden Enterprises and Excellence Technology Group - have shown interest to implement the project on built operate own transfer (BOOT) and EPC basis.

Sources said that Wapda officials have informed the president's secretariat about the progress on other important hydropower projects. In this behalf, Wapda said that Allai Khwar hydropower project would be completed at a revised date of June 2007. The project would cost Rs8.5bn which is located at Kohistan district of NWFP.

Khan Khwar hydropower project, costing Rs5.3bn was being completed with the help of the United Arab Emirates having an installed capacity of 72 MW. The project is located in Swat district and the UAE government is expected to offer Rs2.6bn.

Similarly, Duber Khwar hydropower project, located in Kohistan district (Besham) will be completed in June 2007 at a cost of Rs9.7bn. It would generate 130 MW electricity and was partly being funded (Rs4.1bn) by Abu Dhabi.

However, Wapda officials gave no date to complete Keyal Khwar hydropower project, located in right tributary of Indus in Dasu district of NWFP. The cost of the project is Rs7bn having an installed capacity of 130 MW.

Also, Rs13.5bn Jinnah hydropower project, located in Mianwali and after completion would generate 96 MW electricity. And Golen Gol hydropower project, having an installed capacity of 106 MW was being constructed at a cost of Rs7bn in Kohistan district.

The Wapda officials also informed the higher authorities that Bunji hydropower project, located on the river Indus was being constricted at a cost of Rs193m. It would generate 18450 million GWh of energy annually.