Tarbela 4th extension: WAPDA chief calls for completing work on time

Reviews construction activity on the project site

LAHORE: Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lieutenant General (Retired) Muzammil Hussain has called on management of the Tarbela 4th Extension project to complete work in accordance with the set timelines.

Hussain, who was appointed chairman about a week ago, gave the directive on Friday during a visit to the site of 1,410-megawatt Tarbela hydroelectric power extension project, which was being implemented to enhance power generation capacity of the country’s major water reservoir.

Earlier, the Wapda chairman had toured the site of Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project - a run-of-the-river scheme that will produce 969MW of electricity.

He inspected the construction work on various sites of the Tarbela extension project including the critical intake structure in the reservoir and the powerhouse.

In early July, an accident occurred during work on the powerhouse, which left four workers dead and sparked fears that the project may miss the completion deadline.

The extension project is being constructed on tunnel 4 of the Tarbela Dam. It will increase generation capacity of the Tarbela Hydel Power Station from 3,478MW to 4,888MW after installation of three units with 470MW capacity each.

The World Bank is providing $840 million for execution of the project. After completion, it will add about 3.84 billion units of low-cost electricity to the national grid per annum. The project will pay back its cost in just three years.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2016.

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