Suki Kinari Hydropower Project under CPEC is making progress despite COVID-19

BEIJING, May 02 (APP):The Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, being constructed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework in the Khyber-Pakhtoonkhaw Province, would be completed as per schedule despite the challenge of Covid-19.

Although, the majority of construction projects in Pakistan are stalled due to spread of new coronavirus but the construction work of 870-MW hydropower plant is going on day and night as strict prevention and control measures have been taken against the pandemic.

The Chinese employees are working hard to complete the project by end of the year 2022, Project Manager, Zhao told China Radio International (CRI). He informed that a large number of Pakistani construction workers withdrew from the project due to the epidemic. The Chinese employees returned to China to celebrate Spring Festival but could not return to Pakistan.

To continue the construction of the project in an efficient manner, the Chinese company developed a new strategy to mobilize the enthusiasm of the Chinese staff. According to the schedule, the construction of Suki Kinari hydropower plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The project manager said that due to the timely reorganization of the project and staff, more than 700 Chinese employees has overcome difficulties at the current critical time and the duration of the project will not be affected much.

It is worth mentioning here that the Suki Kinari Hydropower is a run-of-the-river project which is being established alongside the Kunhar River in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is also one of Pakistan’s largest private sector power development projects and is being constructed as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s `Early Harvest’ projects.

The total cost of the project is US $ 1.9 billion and it is being developed on the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model – which implies that the Chinese would operate it for 30 years after which the project would be transferred to the KP government.

Once completed, the project would add 884 megawatts to the national grid and all four units would become fully operational by 2022. The completion of this hydropower plant will play an important role in promoting Pakistan’s industrial development and economic recovery.

May 02:Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaq called on Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar at his office and presented him a cheque worth Rs4 million for the CM Fund for Corona Control, on behalf of the Faisalabad industrialists.

He presented donation of N95 and surgical masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs), disinfectant material and other equipment worth Rs3.5 million on behalf of two Chinese companies — Time Ceramics and Henan DR.

Usman Bazdar lauded the philanthropic passion of industrialists and Chinese companies and thanked Kashif Ashfaq over his enthusiasm in this difficult time. He said that more industries would be allowed to start their operations as the situation was improving.

The CM ordered to accelerate pace of work on Allama Iqbal Industrial City as it was a flagship project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The CM also congratulated the Chinese leadership for speedily overcoming the pandemic, adding that the donation of necessary equipment was a reflection of the deep bilateral relations between the two countries.