Water and Power Development Authority WAPDA is constructing six hydropower projects with cumulative generation capacity of about 4800 MW, of which, three projects with generation capacity of about 2500 MW will be completed from early 2018 to mid-2018 in a phased manner.
According to a WAPDA spokesman, these include Golen Gol, Neelum Jhelum and Tarbela 4th Extension hydropower projects. Another seven projects with gross water storage capacity of more than 10 MAF and power generation capacity of more than 16,000 MW are ready for construction including Diamer Basha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Dasu Stage II, Tarbela 5th Extension and Bunji.
Meanwhile the much delayed 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project near Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is fast heading towards completion, as dry testing of electro-mechanical equipment’s installed at the power house and the switch yard is in progress. WAPDA is looking towards the power generation from the first unit of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project in February 2018.
The spokesman said that overall progress on the project stands at 95.4 per cent. The dam (weir) of the project has been substantially completed, while reservoir impounding will commence this month. The water way system for diverting water from the reservoir to the power house will be completed by end December 2017, whereas wet commissioning of the generating unit will start in February 2018.
He said Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project is an engineering marvel with 90 per cent of the project being underground in the high mountain areas. The project consists of four units with installed capacity of 242.25 MW each. The first unit of the project is scheduled to go into operation by end February 2018 followed by the second unit in mid-March and third and fourth units in April 2018. On its completion, the project will contribute about five billion units of electricity to the national grid annually. Annual revenue of the project is estimated to be Rs.50 billion.
The spokesman further informed that the 1410 MW Tarbela 4th Extension hydro-power project is also heading towards its completion at a fairly good pace. WAPDA is confident to complete Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project in a phased manner from February 2018 to May 2018.
It is pertinent to mention that the 1410 MW Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project is a component of least-cost energy generation plan, which is being implemented by WAPDA on priority. Under Tarbela 4th Extension Project, three generating units – each of them having capacity of 470 MW – are being installed at Tunnel No. 4 of Tarbela Dam. With completion of the project, generation capacity of Tarbela Hydel Power Station will increase to 4888 MW from the existing 3478 MW.
