Tarbela 5th Extension Project expected to generate power by 2025-26

August 07, 2024 (MLN): The Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, under construction on Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam with financial support of $390 million from the World Bank and $300m from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is anticipated to commence electricity generation in 2025-26.

The cumulative generation capacity of the project stands at 1530 MW with three generating units of 510 MW each.

The project, under construction by WAPDA, will provide 1.347 billion units of environment-friendly and low-cost hydel electricity to the national grid every year.

With the completion of Tarbela 5th Extension, the installed capacity at Tarbela Dam will increase from 4,888 MW to 6,418 MW.

Chairman WAPDA, Sajjad Ghani accompanied by a World Bank team headed by Advisor Masood Ahmed and task team leader Gautum Gunjan on Tuesday visited the project and reviewed construction progress on key components, said a press release issued.

After a detailed visit to various sites, the chairman also presided over a progress review meeting at the project office.

The project management briefed the chairman and the World Bank team about the progress achieved so far on seven key sites of the project, which included intake, tunnel, penstock and outlet, power house, tail race culvert, tail race canal, and switchyard.

Resource deployment, timelines, and implementation plan for completion of the project were also discussed during the meeting. It was briefed that electricity generation from the project is likely to commence in 2025-26.

Addressing the meeting, the chairman emphasized upon timely completion of the project to cope with the increasing demand of energy in the country through green, clean, and most affordable electricity.

He urged the consultants and the contractors to maximize their efforts so that the project could be completed by 2025-26.

Copyright Mettis Link News