KARACHI: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has granted power generation licence to Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) for its 36.60 MW Daral Khwar Hydro Power Plant located at Daral Khwar near Bahrain, District Swat, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). PEDO has identified around 6000 MW hydropower potential at various sites all over the province. The identified/selected sites are at different stages of implementation. One of such sites is at Daral Khwar near Bahrain, district Swat, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) said that considering that the project is located on a tributary of River of Swat, it has no objection if project cost and energy cost remains within permissible limit as defined by the Nepra for the high head hydro projects. The Nepra is encouraged that the proposed project of PEDO will be utilizing water which is Renewable Energy (RE) source. However, the Authority has observed that the construction and operation of the proposed generation facility/Hydel Power Plant may cause some environmental concerns including soil pollution, water pollution and noise pollution. In this regard, the Nepra has observed that PEDO carried out the required Initial Environment Examination Study and obtained NOC from Environmental Protection Agency, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PEDO is under the administrative control of Irrigation and Power Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is an autonomous organization governed by its Board of Directors. PEDO has successfully completed six (06) small and medium sized hydel power projects including 81.00 MW Malakand-Ill, 18.00 MW Pehur, 1.80 MW Shishi, 4.20 MW Reshun, 2.40 MW Machai and 17.00 MW Ranolia Projects. Currently, PEDO is working on a number of hydropower projects which are at different stages of implementation. These hydropower potential sites are mainly located in the Northern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa i.e. Chitral, Dir, Swat, Mansehra and Kohistan. Major source of funding for financing these projects had been the Hydel Development Fund and the Annual Development Program of Government. of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In view of the above, the Authority is satisfied that PEDO has the required financial and technical capability to implement hydel power projects. The Authority has observed that current application of PEDO pertains to DKHPP being set up at Daral Khwar (a right tributary of River Swat), near Bahrain, district Swat, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The total installed capacity of DKHPP is 36.60 MW consisting of three (03) PeIton vertical type turbines (2 x 15.3 MW + 1 x 6 MW). The said capacity of the project has been optimized keeping in view the design discharge of 15 m3/s. DKHPP is a run of river with mean annual energy of 149.7 GWh at plant factor of 48%. The project is in advanced stage and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2017.