KARACHI: Construction work on the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, aimed to generate 800 megawatts of electricity, will begin in November 2017. In this regard, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI) from experienced consultants to undertake consultancy services for design review, construction supervision, and contract administration for the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project. WAPDA has been entrusted with execution of the project for which the PC-I has been submitted to Ministry of Water & Power (MoW&P) for approval of ECNEC through the Planning Commission. The Project is expected to commence from November 01, 2017 to be completed after 5 years and 8 months i.e. June 2023, along with a one year Defect Notification Period and six months for closing of the Project. Overall, completion time is 7 years and 2 months, reported WAPDA. Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project is a multipurpose facility with the objective of hydropower generation of 800 MW, flood control, irrigated agricultural development of 6,773 hectares and a drinking water supply of 13.30 cumecs to Peshawar. The dam site is located on Swat River basin, about 48 km from Peshawar in Mohmand Agency, FATA. The reservoir area of the dam extends upstream to Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies in FATA. The total length of the reservoir is about 56 km in the rocky gorge of Swat River. The area is formed by barren and rugged hills and the command area is spread across administrative units; namely Mohmand Agency, Tehsils Shabqadar and Tangi of district Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The total cost of the project including engineering and administrative cost, taxes, duties, interest during construction etc. is Rs 291.86 billion – Rs 224.24 billion is local funding and Rs 67.71 billion is foreign funding. The Project is proposed to be financed through 66 percent equity (WAPDA and PSDP) and 34 percent debt by Foreign Re-lent loans/ Supplier’s Credit and CDL/ Local Commercial Loan. The Dam, upon construction, will store approximately 1.3 million acre-feet of water and generate the most economical hydropower of 800 megawatts, thus helping to overcome the country’s energy crisis. Additionally, the project will help irrigate nearly 17,000 acres of barren land, thus bringing a green revolution and prosperity in the area. The dam will be useful in controlling floods by averting flood damages downstream of the dam and also serve as a source of many job opportunities.