| Islamabad: The Pakistan Government has reached out to the World Bank, seeking a 13-month extension for the closing date of a loan to facilitate the completion of the transmission line from the Dasu Hydropower Plant to Islamabad, according to a news source on January 31.
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As disclosed in the details, the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) forwarded the request to extend the closing date until June 30, 2025, aiming to sustain the construction of a 765 kilo-volt (kV) transmission line from Dasu Hydropower Plant to Islamabad West Substation.
Under the implementation of the Transmission Component, the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) is overseeing the project. This extension marks the first prolongation of the IBRD loan, with key contracts totalling USD 654.5 million awarded for various aspects of the project.
The contracts cover:
Lot 1: Construction of Transmission Line from Dasu to Mansehra
Lot 2: Transmission Line from Mansehra to Islamabad Substation
Lot 3: Mansehra Substation. Contracts and other necessary components are being financed utilising the available USD 700 million in the IBRD loan.
As of January 15, 2024, USD 103.1 million has been disbursed from the IBRD Loan, with USD 245.2 million reserved as Special Commitments to ensure the procurement of equipment and parts.
Contractors are currently mobilised, design approvals are nearing completion, and progress is evident in various project aspects. The overall progress of the project toward achieving its development objectives is deemed satisfactory, with the dam construction already underway.
Further funding arrangements by the bank are underway for the Hydropower Component, managed by the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The completion of the transmission line is crucial for the evacuation of power from the 2,160-megawatt hydropower plant, with the potential for longer extensions in the future depending on implementation progress.
Read: World Bank approved USD 1.6 bn for flood relief efforts in Sindh
The project’s primary objective is to enhance Pakistan’s electricity supply through hydro-power expansion, benefiting local communities and strengthening WAPDA’s capacity for future hydropower projects |
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