SWABI, March 5: US ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson on Tuesday said his government would initially provide $25 million for Tarbela Dam Fourth Extension Hydropower Project.

He said this during a visit to the dam, where he inaugurated the new 128MW power project in the presence of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Raghib Abbas Shah and senior officials.

A detailed briefing was given to the ambassador about the dam’s power generation capacity, especially the rehabilitation process, and expected initiation and completion of the fourth extension project.

Mr Olson said the US was providing assistance to Pakistan to meet the country’s energy needs.

He said 900MW would be added to the national grid due to the US assistance.

The ambassador said the US would be the largest fund provider for Diamer-Bhasha dam and that the US wanted to help Pakistan overcome its energy crisis.

An official said the US provided $16.5 million for rehabilitation process in Tarbela dam.

“We have competent specialists, who could deliver according to the requirements of the country. The entire rehabilitation process was carried out by our competent experts,” he said.

The official said equipment had been replaced to help increase power generation.

According to a news release issued by Tarbela dam authorities, the US ambassador said Pakistan had been confronting energy crisis and his country extended complete help to Islamabad in overcoming the crisis.

He said the completion of rehabilitation work had led to increase in power generation, which would help meet power requirement of 2 million consumers. The ambassador said apart of Tarbela, the US was also helping Pakistan in the rehabilitation of Mangla dam.

He said the US also provided financial assistance to Pakistan in the completion of Gomal Zam and Satpara dams.

“These projects will produce 35MW electricity and irrigate two lakh acres land,” he said.

The Wapda chairman lauded the US help to Pakistan for overcoming energy crisis and said Wapda had been working on new energy projects and at the same had also focused on upgradation and rehabilitation of old projects while striving to meet the country’s growing power needs.

Chief Engineer of Tarbela dam and Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project Mohammad Iqbal, General Manager Mohammad Umar and others were also present on the occasion.

When contacted, Mr Iqbal said the dam’s fourth extension would add 960MW electricity to the national system to strengthen economy and enhance hydropower generation project.

He said the basic objective of the proposed project was to add hydel power to the national system to strengthen economy and enhance hydropower's generation share.

“We are striving to increase hydropower generation,” he said.