Federal Minister for Power Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a 500 kV transmission line to evacuate electricity from 884 megawatts Suki Kinari hydropower station.
The 75-kilometre-long transmission line will cost Rs18.7 billion, according to the National Transmission and Dispatch Co. (NTDC). Work on the transmission line is already underway with the first tower erected a month ago.
The minister, while talking on the occasion, said that the project will bring prosperity to the area and play a vital role in the development of the area as well as the whole country. Managing Director Private Power and Infrastructure Board Shah Jahan Mirza was also present on the occasion, among other senior officers and local representatives.
The transmission line will connect Suki Kinari HPP with the national grid. According to the NTDC, Suki Kinari HPP will produce over 3.13 billion units of low-cost green and clean energy annually. The transmission line will be completed before the completion of the hydropower plant, the NTDC said.
Suki Kinari HPP was launched in 2017 at a cost of $2.1 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. The project provided employment to 6,000 individuals, the NTDC said.
The Suki Kinari HPP will start electricity production in November 2024, the NTDC said.
