PESHAWAR: The Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation has built a two kilometres long tunnel of the Koto hydropower project saying the initiative will generate 40.8 megawatts electricity.

The tunnel is located a few kilometres from Timergara on the main road of Lower Dir.

The Rs13. 98 billion project being executed on the River Panjkora will be linked with the national grid in 2019.

A relevant official praised the Chinese engineering team for building the tunnel four months before the stipulated time.

He said the provincial government was ensuring completion of its power projects within the deadlines to overcome energy power and boost its economy.

The official said a special ceremony was held at Koto hydropower project site in Lower Dir to celebrate the tunnel’s construction in short time.

He said 69 megawatts Lavi power project would be successfully executed in Chitral and linked with the national grid in 2019, while 84 megawatts power project in Matiltan Kalam, Swat, would be linked with the national grid in 2020.

Meanwhile, a statement issued here said energy and power secretary Naeem Khan chaired the event marking the tunnel’s construction and praised Chinese engineers and Pedo officials for completing the project in record time.

The secretary said he was hopeful that the government was ensuring early completion of power projects to help ease the country’s energy crisis.

He called for the early resolution of the land acquisition issues relating to power projects.

The secretary said the government would make every effort to ensure the inclusion of its all energy schemes in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

He later cut a cake to appreciate engineers and visited the project site to examine ongoing work.

Published in Dawn February 16th, 2017