Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government and two South Korean companies have signed memorandums of understanding to develop two new hydroelectric projects, HydroWorld.com has learned.
The first MOU -- signed with Korea Midland Power Company (KOMIPO) -- will allow for the construction of the 496-MW Lower Spat Gah project. The plant is to be located on the Indus River near Dasu.
The second agreement, signed with a consortium which includes the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) and Daewoo, will produce the 665-MW Lower Palas Valley hydropower project. It will also be located on the Indus River, but near Patan.
WAPDA Chairman Raghib Shah said the pair are two of about 20 hydropower projects the agency is currently working to develop. Eventually, Shah said, Pakistan would like to add as much as 20,000 MW of additional hydroelectric capacity.
"This investment reflects the confidence of international institutions have in WAPDA executing water and power projects," Shah said.
