Indus River diverted at Dasu hydropower project site

Stage-I of the project likely to start electricity generation in 2026

DASSU KOHISTAN:

Indus River was successfully diverted following the completion of one of the two diversion tunnels at the under-construction Dasu hydropower project in Kohistan District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Instead of its natural course, the river is now flowing through a 1.33-kilometre (Km) long diversion tunnel with a 20-metre (m) width and 23-m height.

Consequently, construction activities have been initiated on the starter dam, leading toward the construction of the main dam of the Dasu hydropower project.

Read Dasu’s diversion system to be completed by May

The diversion of the mighty river was witnessed by the general manager and project director of the project, representatives of contractors and consultants, along with a number of engineers and workers.

Meanwhile, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lt General (retd) Sajjad Ghani congratulated the project management on achieving this milestone.

The diversion system of the Dasu hydropower project comprises two tunnels – tunnel A and tunnel B. Of these, the latter is complete, which has the discharge capacity, sufficient to divert the water from Indus River during the current lean-flows season.

The 1.5-km long tunnel A, with a 20-m width and 23-m height, will also be ready by mid-April this year to cater to the increased water flows during the high-flow season.

The project is a vital component of the least-cost, green and clean energy generation plan of WAPDA.

The 4320 MW-Dasu hydropower project is planned to be completed in two stages.

Read More WAPDA chairman visits Dasu plant

At present, WAPDA is constructing its stage-I with an installed generation capacity of 2160 MW and annual energy generation of 12 billion units and is likely to start electricity generation in 2026.

The 2160 MW stage-II, when implemented, will also provide nine billion units to the national grid.

On the completion of both stages, Dasu will become a project with the highest annual energy generation in Pakistan (ie 21 billion units per annum on average).