China eyes US$50b investment in 22GW hydro projects in Pakistan

Five dams will be constructed.

Pakistan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to finance and develop dams with a cumulated capacity of 22.3 GW on the North Indus River Cascade in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. Total investment is estimated at US$50b, according to Enerdata.

The MoU covers the construction of five dams, namely the 4,500 MW Diamer-Bhasha project worth US$12bn and due to be completed in nine years, the 2,400 MW Patan dam, the 4,000 MW Thakot dam, the 7,100 MW Bunji dam and the 4,320 MW Dasu dam. Enerdata added that the Indus River Cascade has a potential of producing 40 GW of power. Under the terms of the MoU, the National Energy Administration (NEA) of China will oversee the construction of the projects.

"In 2015, China Three Gorges (CTG) Corporation had expressed its interest in taking part to a financing consortium to fund up to US$50bn of hydropower projects in Pakistan," Enerdata said.

This story was originally published by Enerdata.