MUZAFFARABAD: Wapda Chairman retired Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani visited Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) on Friday and reviewed progress on the remedial work in the project’s tail race tunnel.

The chief executive officer of NJHP company and representatives of the contractors of remedial works and consultants were also present on the occasion.

Electricity generation from the 969-megawatt NJHP had to be suspended in July this year due to the blockage at one location of the tail race tunnel out of the project’s 68 kilometre-long tunnelling system. Consequently, remedial works were initiated by Wapda by awarding contract to a Chinese construction firm in August 2022 after seeking approval from the federal government.

According to a press release, following the award of contract, the remedial works were being carried out day and night.

While witnessing the construction work at the site, the Wapda chairman emphasised upon the project management to complete the works in accordance with the schedule.

He directed that the recommendations made by the international panel of experts should also be adhered to in carrying out the important assignment.

Earlier, the CEO of the NJHP company briefed the chairman about progress achieved so far on the task.

The NJHP had started electricity generation in April 2018 and prior to suspension of the electricity generation in July 2022, the project had provided more than 18 billion units of electricity to the national grid.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022