DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Work on a pilot project for installation of 13 solar mini-grids in the merged districts has been 98 per cent completed.
The progress was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Adviser to Chief Minister on Energy and Power, Planning and Development and Science, Technology and IT, Usman Saifullah Khan here on Monday.
According to a statement issued, Secretary Energy and Power Mohammad Zubair, PEDO Chief Executive Officer Engineer Anwarul Haq and other officials attended the meeting. The meeting was informed that the pilot project for installation of 13 solar mini-grids and solarisation of 300 mosques and worship places in merged districts was being executed by PEDO under the ADP.
The initial approved cost of the project was Rs896.041 million which was revised to Rs673.253 million in the second revised PC-I approved on Nov 22, 2023, out of which Rs490.20 million has been allocated for mini-grids. The completion period including defect liability period is June 30, 2027.
Each solar mini-grid has been designed with 175kW solar PV, 150kW inverter, 200kWh lithium battery storage and 11kV transmission infrastructure.
The physical progress of the project has reached 98pc. Under packages 01, 02 and 04, work on four sites — Mian Mandi Bazaar Mohmand, Zewara Bazaar FR Peshawar, Sheraz Garhi Bazaar Orakzai and Jandola Bazaar FR Tank — has been 100pc completed, while 98pc work has been completed at Bara Bazaar Khyber and Dogar Bazaar Kurram and 90pc at Khar Bazaar Bajaur. One site at Jandola Bazaar has been handed over to district administration.
Remaining work relates to handing/taking over, commissioning and installation of lines. Mian Mandi, Zewara and Sheraz Garhi sites have been commissioned and their handing over is pending with district administration due to non-nomination of grid operators.
Installation of energy meters is underway at Bara Bazaar, while communication issue between battery bank and inverters at Dogar Bazaar is being resolved with manufacturers. At Khar Bazaar, installation of transmission and distribution lines has been delayed due to drainage issues after construction of bypass road and solar panels need to be reinstalled.
Mr Khan directed the authorities to expedite the handing/taking over process with district administration, remove all technical hurdles without delay, ensure early commissioning of all sites and complete remaining work on priority to ensure uninterrupted and cheap electricity supply to commercial centres of merged districts.
