Sinohydro Corporation of China is all set to invest in 1,100 MW Kohala hydropower project. As per report top officials of the company came up with the offer on 9 October in a meeting with Mr Raja Pervez Ashraf federal minister for water and power. The minister said that government would facilitate foreign investors to invest in the water and power sector in Pakistan as there are great opportunities. He said that foreign investment in hydel power generation would help to meet the country’s future power requirements at affordable prices. Mr Ashraf also informed the delegation that Pakistan is embarking on the construction of multipurpose dams which would meet power needs in the long term.

Earlier, the Chinese company gave a detailed presentation to the minister on its ongoing projects and briefed him on the expertise in construction of hydropower projects. The firm expressed interest in investing millions of dollars in Pakistan by constructing 1,100 MW Kohala hydropower project. They also informed that the company is working on 156 hydropower projects in various countries of the world. The company is already constructing Gomal Zam dam, Khan Khawar hydropower project and Dubair Khawar hydropower project in Pakistan. Mr Pervez Ashraf said that the international consultants have been appointed for detailed engineering, designs and tender documents for the hydropower project, which is in its final stages. He expressed hope that the Chinese firm would take opportunity to participate in the international competitive bidding to be held for Kohala hydropower and various other water and power projects1 .

• 1. “Sinohydro to construct 1,100MW power project in Pakistan”, asiaenergy.blogspot.com, 12 October, 2008 at http://asianenergy.blogspot.com/2008/10/sinohydro-to-construct-1100mw-po...