Neelum-Jhelum power project: Water filling in waterway tunnels begins

CEO says project fast heading towards completion

LAHORE: The strategically important 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project achieved yet another landmark on its way towards completion as water filling (pressurisation) in its waterway comprising 51.5km-long tunnels commenced on Friday.

Being a critical activity, the water filling is being carried out in a phased manner. In the first phase, water is being filled at the tail end.

Speaking on the occasion, Neelum-Jhelum Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Zareen said the project was fast heading towards completion and most of the work - critical in nature - had been completed successfully.

Construction of the weir (dam), waterway system, installation of electrical and mechanical equipment including turbines, generators and transformers in the power house and switchyard, and dry testing of these equipment had already been completed, Zareen said.

While water filling in the reservoir is under way, overall progress on the project stands at about 97%.

Meanwhile, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain, in a statement, congratulated project authorities, consultants and contractors for achieving the milestone.

He reiterated that Wapda was committed to completing the Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project as early as possible.

The project is a component of the least-cost energy generation plan being implemented by Wapda. The project is located in Azad Jammu and Kashmir with installed capacity of 969MW.

It has four generating units, each of them having capacity of 242.25MW. The first unit will start electricity generation in March this year followed by second, third and fourth units at an interval of one month each.

The project will provide about five billion units of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity to the national grid every year. Annual benefits of the project are estimated at Rs50 billion.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2018.

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