From Our
Correspondent
BEIJING: The recently signed agreements in Pakistan for hydropower projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) marked the beginning of a mature new phase for the program, which is under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to Chinse experts.
The concessional agreement for the 700.7-MW Azad Pattan Hydropower Project was signed last week, a breakthrough for the implementation of the project, according to China Gezhouba Group, the Chinese investor in the project.
With a total investment of $1.54 billion, the construction period of the project is expected to be 69 months and the hydropower plant will generate some 3.265 billion units of clean energy per year and provide relief from water shortages.
Prior to the agreement, another deal on hydropower – the largest energy sector investment in the history of Pakistan – was signed in June. The project will be implemented by China Three Gorges Corp through its subsidiary under the framework of the CPEC.
Zhou Rong, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China said that the Pakistani government has realized the importance of infrastructure construction for its economic development and employment, which is a “fundamental change.”
“Infrastructure projects like hydropower were not given that much attention as early as 2018 when the government valued projects related to people’s livelihood more,” said Zhou.
Compared with coal power and thermal power, the hydropower projects signed with the two Chinese firms will help reduce Pakistan’s over-dependence on imported fuel, save costs, and provide green energy to help improve its environment, he noted.
“More importantly, as the projects pick up, it will create a large number of jobs for local people during the construction process,” Zhou said.
