The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has sanctioned an additional $1 billion in funding for the DASU Hydropower Stage I (DHP I) Project in Pakistan. This funding will aid in expanding the hydropower electricity supply, enhancing socio-economic services for local communities, and bolstering the Water and Power Development Authority’s (WAPDA) capability to develop future hydropower projects.
“Pakistan’s energy sector faces numerous challenges in achieving affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy,” stated Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “The DASU Hydropower Project site is among the best globally and is a transformative project for Pakistan’s energy sector. With a minimal environmental footprint, DHP will help ‘green’ the energy sector and reduce electricity costs.”
Read more: ADB Withdraws $0.6 Million Funding for Gas Storage Infrastructure Project in Pakistan
Located on the Indus River about 8 km from Dasu Town in Upper Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, DHP is a run-of-river project. Once completed, it will have an installed capacity of 4,320–5,400 MW. The project is being developed in stages; DHP-I will have a capacity of 2,160 MW and will generate 12,225 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of low-cost renewable energy. DHP-II will add 9,260–11,400 GWh annually from the same dam.
The additional financing will also support socio-economic initiatives in Upper Kohistan, including education, health, employment, and transport. Since 2012, adult literacy has increased by 30%, boys’ schooling by 16%, and girls’ schooling by 70%. The project will continue community development activities focusing on roads, irrigation, schools, medical facilities, mosques, bridges, solar energy systems, science laboratories, and libraries, with special emphasis on benefiting women through free healthcare clinics, training for female health workers, and awareness programs on health and hygiene.
