Hydroelectric power: USAID commits $81m for Kurram Tangi Dam

LAHORE: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed to provide a grant of $81 million to Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for the construction of stage-I of Kurram Tangi Dam. Kurram Tangi Dam is a component of the federal government’s least-cost energy generation and water storage development strategy. The strategy aims to improve the ratio of hydroelectric power in the system to provide relief to the people, in addition to developing water storage capacity for agriculture. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved stage-I of Kurram Tangi Dam costing Rs12.662 billion in its meeting held on Thursday. Stage-I of the project includes Kaitu Weir irrigation and power component, scheduled to be completed in two years. It will provide water to 16,380 acres of land in addition to producing about 19 megawatts of electricity. It will also provide water for domestic use by about 48,500 people. Benefits of the stage-I have been estimated at Rs1.5 billion per annum. Kurram Tangi Dam is located in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). Wapda has planned to implement the project in two stages. Published in The Express Tribune, March 8th, 2014.