Neelum-Jhelum expected to generate power by 2015 end

Mirpur: Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)-based Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project an important one for generation of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity in the country.

“The government is making concrete efforts towards completion the project of national significance on time,” said Ali during his visit to the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum project in AJK.

He said that the country possessed an identified potential of more than 60,000 MW of hydropower generation, adding that the phased induction of this potential would even out the energy mix, lower power tariff and provide relief to the common man.

Ali claimed the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project will start generating power by the end of 2015.

Shah said that upon completion, the Neelum-Jhelum Project would contribute 5.15 billion units of cheap electricity to the national grid and the annual benefits accruing from the project have been estimated at Rs45 billion.