An update about Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project
Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) visited the under-construction 1530 MW-Tarbela 5th Extension and reviewed the project’s progress. The Chairman made a detailed visit to the key sites, including the Raised Intake, the Tunnel, and the Powerhouse, and witnessed construction work. During the on-site briefing, the Project Director and the Construction Manager briefed the Chairman about the milestones achieved on these sites. Temporary support work in the tunnel is complete, paving the way for the commencement of construction on the connecting tunnel. Equipment installation, such as draft tubes of all three units – Unit No. 18, 19 and 20 – is in progress at the Powerhouse Site. The Contractor is all set to resume construction work on the Raised Intake structure once the water in the reservoir recedes to the required level.
Following the site visit, the Chairman presided over a meeting at the project office attended by the GM Tarbela Dam, PD T5, the Consultants and the Contractors. The overall progress of the project was discussed during the meeting. It was briefed that construction is continuing on all six work fronts simultaneously. The project is likely to be completed in 2025-26. Thorough deliberations were also made on the work plan to meet the timelines. The Chairman believed that concerted efforts are needed by the Consultants and the Contractor to complete the project as per the schedule. Deployment of additional resources is also inevitable for the purpose, he said.
Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is a component of the green, clean and least-cost energy generation plan of WAPDA. World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank provide financial assistance for the project, which is US$ 390 million and US$ 300 million, respectively. Under the 5th Extension, three generating units – of 510 MW each – are being installed at Tunnel No. 5 of the Tarbela Dam Project, and it will provide 1.347 billion units of hydel electricity to the National Grid on average every year. Installed capacity at Tarbela Dam will surge to 6418 MW from 4888 MW after the Tarbela 5th Extension Project is completed.