SWABI: Wapda chairman Lt-Gen retired Sajjad Ghani on Friday visited the Tarbela Dam’s 5th Extension Hydropower Project, and reviewed progress on it.

On the occasion, he was told that electricity generation from the power station would start in 2025.

Masood Ahmed from the World Bank also accompanied him.

General manager Tarbela Dam Zakir Ateeq and the project director 5th Extension Hydropower Project made detailed presentation on progress of work on the project.

The Wapda chief was briefed that construction activities were underway on five sites.

Earlier, the Wapda chairman witnessed construction work on various sites, including intake, penstock and outlet, power house, tailrace culvert and switch yard.

During his interaction with the project management, the Wapda chairman said that green, clean and affordable hydel electricity was all the more important to rationalise the tariff and stabilise the economy.

“This necessitates timely completion of hydropower projects,” he added.

He urged the project management to gear up their efforts and complete the 5th Extension Hydropower Project in accordance with the schedule.

Wapda is constructing 5th Extension Hydropower Project on Tunnel No 5 of Tarbela Dam. World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are providing financial assistance for the project to the tune of $390 million and $300 million, respectively. Cumulative generation capacity of the project stands at 1,530MW with three generating units of 510MW each.

The project will provide 1.347 billion units of environment-friendly and low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid on average every year.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023