By Muhammad Mudassar

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (INP-WealthPK): The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) and the Government of Pakistan have inked a funding agreement worth US$72 million for the Mohmand Dam and Hydropower Project, reports WealthPK.

The project – being co-financed by Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Kuwait Fund for Development (KFD), Islamic Development Bank (lsDB), and OPEC Fund – will be completed by 2025.

Addressing a ceremony, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, IsDB Group President, said: “The signing of these agreements demonstrates a strong collaboration between Pakistan and the OPEC Fund for International Development aligned with the country's goals and our own promises to increase funding for climate-friendly projects. We are looking forward to ensuring the project's successful execution and hope to see it in action in time.”

“It will also support Pakistan’s efforts to achieve the goal stated in its Vision 2025 of more than doubling its installed hydropower capacity by 2030 as part of its pillar IV ‘Energy, Food and Water Security’, as well as SDG-2 (Food Security), SDG-6 (Clean Water), and SDG-7 (Clean Energy) while embodying SDG-17 (Partnerships for the Goals),” he added.

According to details, the hydropower project on Swat River in the Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not only generate 2,862GWh cheap and clean energy annually, but also enhance Pakistan’s water storage capacity by 1,293 million acre-feet (MAF) and food security buffer, providing 13.32 cubic clean drinking water for the residents of Peshawar as well as creating more than 6,000 new employment opportunities in the region.

The project is a national priority that is intended to contribute to national energy and water security, as well as regional socio-economic development in the KP province. Once finished, this new multi-purpose dam will boost low-cost electricity generation while also providing long-term water supplies for agriculture and human use. Moreover, it is also environment-friendly.

According to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Mohmand Dam would be the 5^th highest concrete-face-rock-fill dam in the world and its first unit will be completed in December 2025. Upon completion, the dam will store 1.2-million-acre-feet water. It will help in flood protection and will be able to cultivate 160,000 acres of existing agricultural land as well as 18,237 acres of new land.

Construction is currently underway at 13 different sites simultaneously and is progressing at a satisfactory pace. These sites include diversion tunnels, power in tech, power waterway, spillway, regulation pond, left bank irrigation tunnel, power house, main dam excavation, link roads, and project colony.

Talking to WealthPK, a spokesperson for WAPDA said, “In such circumstances, Pakistan can build additional dams immediately in order to improve water management and provide cheaper electricity. The project completion will help achieve Pakistan's energy demands in a sustainable manner and ensure generation of affordable electricity. It will also enable Pakistan to deal with major challenges in the region like flood protection, renewable energy production, and rural development in a crisis zone.”

 ‘’The dam will also assist in addressing the issue of water shortage in Peshawar city and surrounding areas. The height of the Mohmand Dam is the most technically possible since water will flow to all of the intended sites without the need for pumping. The operational costs of the dam are also cheaper than those of other dams, and its water is cleaner than that of the other dams,” said the spokesperson.

He further said, “Pakistan's economy relies heavily on agriculture. It offers primary commodities to the country's major agro-industry and employs 45 percent of the population. The creation of additional irrigation zones in the project area, which is located in Pakistan's tribal regions in the northwest, might help stabilize and anchor the production system.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk