Norhydro has entered into a cooperation agreement with the authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan on the development and operation of small hydropower plants and ground-mounted solar power plants. The agreement is the result of dialogue that has been ongoing in recent years, and which was concretized after the Government of Gilgit Baltistan Investment Conference 2022, and subsequent trip to Gilgit-Baltistan in February 2023. In addition to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan https://gilgitbaltistan .gov.pk and Water & Power Department https://wpdgb.gov.pk then GBRSP (Gilgit Baltistan Rural Support Programme) https://gbrsp.org.pk/ is an important partner for us. In addition to being co-investors in the power plants, they facilitate local business interests also participating in project development and as co-investors.
Learn MoreGilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost political area in Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan in the north, China in the northeast, and Jammu and Kashmir in the southeast. The area has close to 2 million inhabitants, and is divided into the seven districts of Ghanche and Skardu (Baltistan), and Astore, Diamir, Ghizer, Gilgit and Hunza-Nagar (Gilgit). The two most important cities are Gilgit and Skardu, each of which has a population of approximately 230,000 and approximately 30,000 respectively. Gilgit-Baltistan has a large need for electrification, and the area has large unused renewable energy resources. In collaboration with local authorities and partners, Norhydro Pakistan builds small hydropower plants and ground-mounted solar power plants.
Learn MoreOur project development in Gilgit-Baltistan takes place in three main areas: a) upgrading existing hydropower plants, b) building new power plants based on Minihydro's threshold-based low-pressure power plant installed in cascade along the river, and c) ground-mounted solar power plants. As pilot and demonstration projects, we are now working with three concrete power plants, one in each of the above-mentioned areas, which together will have an accumulated installed power of approximately 10 MW. The equipment deliveries will largely be carried out by our Norwegian collaboration partners, while local companies will be used for construction and installation work.
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