WB delegation visits Tarbela 5th Extension Project

A 3-member delegation of World Bank visited the under-construction 1530 MW-Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project.

The delegation visited several key sites and witnessed ongoing construction activities, including the raised intake, tunnel, penstock and power house. WAPDA Chairman Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (retd) welcomed the delegation and accompanied them on their visit.

During the on-site briefing, the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project GM/PD apprised the delegation that construction work on all seven key work fronts was progressing at a good pace. Highlighting the milestones achieved so far on the Project, the delegation was briefed on the excavations that were carried out at the raised intake shaft, penstock, power house and switch yard.

Moreover, it was communicated that the concrete works at the raised intake, power house, switch yard, tailrace culvert and canal were in progress. Draft tubes of all three generating units had already been installed, while installation of penstock pipes and electro-mechanical works at the switch yard was underway. The GM expected electricity generation from the project to commence in 2026.

Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is a component of the green, clean and least-cost energy generation plan of WAPDA. World Bank is providing financial assistance amounting $390 million for the project. Under the 5th Extension, three generating units, 510 MW each, are being installed at Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam Project to provide 1.347 billion units hydel electricity to the national grid on average every year.