KP completes two hydropower projects supplying electricity to 1,300 Upper Dir households

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has completed two mini-micro hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 342 kilowatts in Upper Dir, providing round-the-clock electricity to more than 1,300 households.

The projects are expected to benefit over 7,000 residents in underserved areas of the district and provide electricity without load-shedding.

A 250kW project has been completed in Siah Badrakani Dogdara, while a 92kW project in Jogi Kas Dogdara has also been completed and formally inaugurated.

Mini-Micro Hydel Power Projects Project Director Faisal Dawar said more than 1,000 families would benefit from the Siah Badrakani project and over 300 families from the Jogi Kas scheme.

The projects were developed under the Access to Clean Energy Program by the Energy and Power Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the supervision of its subsidiary, the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization.

The provincial government expects to complete another 10 mini-micro hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 2,445kW by the end of the year, benefiting thousands more residents.

Work is underway on other schemes in Dir, including the 250kW Tapandi, 200kW Kalkot, 250kW Thal Malo, 150kW Munzdog, 50kW Roghani Kalay, 150kW Malok Khor and 500kW Shringal projects.

The foundation stone has also been laid for a 700kW mini-micro hydropower project in Salul Union Council of Sheringal.

The Energy and Power Department said it was developing small, medium and large hydropower schemes to utilise the province’s natural resources and expand electricity access.