Renewable Energy

Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) initiated the project “Water and Energy Security” in 2011 with financial support from the Swiss Agency of Development Cooperation in Pakistan for Yarkhun and Laspoor valleys of East Chitral District. The project provided hydro-power based energy and installed two micro-hydels in the villages of Pawoor (800 KW) and Raman (500 KW). The project also introduced an institutional reform by targeting village-owned power utility companies (PUCs).

Upon termination of the hydro-electrical infrastructure in Phase I, a 2nd phase (2015 – 2018) received another grant from the Government of Switzerland. The Water and Energy Security through Micro Hydel Project (WES MHP-II, 2015-2018) aims to increase economic – ecological development opportunities through utilization of electricity in Yarkhun and Laspoor Valley. The objectives of the project are to stimulate sustainable livelihood options for surrounding households, while protecting them simultaneously and efficiently against the natural hazards. The project benefits approximately 2,200 households directly from electricity along with extended project interventions.

The strategy for Phase II is based on community-owned Power Utility Companies in both valleys as the leading stakeholder. They shall not only be accountable for the supply electricity in upgraded and expanded small grids, but shall also care about an ecological use of the surrounding resources in adjacent catchment areas, thus mitigating risks for natural disasters. The project induces complementary incentive schemes to stimulate more ecological agriculture, fisheries and off-farm gender responsive business opportunities in both valleys. The project will also focus on equal participation of every fragment of the society (men, women, young girls/boys and elderly) to be equally involved and take benefit from the intervention.

Funded by:  Government of KP, PPAF, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Project Duration:  3 Years (August 2014 – November 2017)
Geographic Focus:  All 24 Union Councils of Chitral District

Objectives

• To provide the communities with access to clean and renewable energy for domestic and commercial purposes
• To promote productive use of energy for generating income opportunities for the rural households
• To reduce socio-economic disparities through an efficient use of hydro-power energy and a better protection against water-induced natural disasters.

Key Targets

• Construction of 57 Micro-Hydro and Mini-Hydro Projects (MHPs) mostly in peripheral villages and Off-Grid Areas of Chitral covering more than 15,000 households in the district
• Generate 8.2 Megawatts Electricity for domestic and productive use
• Formation and strengthening Local Community Based Power Utility Companies

Key Achievements

• Two micro-hydro units (Yarkhun 800 KW and Laspur 500 KW) successfully commissioned providing electricity to 2,200 households another (500 KW) is near completion in Shoghore (Garam Chashma)
• Two Local Power Utility Companies Formed (Functioning), another is in progress
• 55 Project are registered with UNFCCC as a CDM (The World Bank) projects
• 147 AKRSP’s constructed projects in GBC with total generating capacity of 13.5
• Megawatts provides electricity to 27,730 households (222,000 individuals)
• AKRSP’s approach and achievements in renewable energy sector have justifiably won the prestigious Ashden Award and the Global Development Network’s Japanese Award for Most Innovative Development Project