The Azad Jammu & Kashmir Private Power Board has invited companies to submit expressions of interest in the development of a 969-MW hydroelectric power station on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis.

The five-unit power station is to be located at Chattar Kalas, 22 kilometres from Muzaffarabad. The project will include the construction of a 42-metre dam, a reservoir with a capacity of 2.8 million cubic metres, and a 32.5- kilometre tunnel.

The interconnection with the distribution network will comprise 100 kilometres of 500-kV cabling. The water will have a nominal discharge of 280 cubic metres a second. Norconsult and Norplan, both of Norway, have conducted feasibility and environmental impact studies for the project.

Consortiums with previous experience of BOT hydroelectric projects and which can demonstrate their ability to raise finance for the project are to submit expressions of interest by 14 April. Selected companies will then be issued with detailed documents in order to prepare final proposals.