The team also indicated that work on the Reservoir Intake structure will resume once the water level in the reservoir decreases to the required threshold
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Engineer Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani (Retd.), the Chairman of WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority), recently conducted a comprehensive visit to the Tarbela Fifth Extension Project, currently under construction with an anticipated capacity of 1,530 megawatts. His visit aimed to assess the project’s progress and to inspect key areas including the Reservoir Intake, Tunnel, and Powerhouse.
During his tour, the Project Director and Construction Manager provided detailed briefings on critical milestones achieved at these key sites. They reported the completion of support work in the tunnel, which has enabled the commencement of construction on the Connecting Tunnel. In the powerhouse, work is actively ongoing, with the installation of essential equipment, including the draft tube for all three production units. The team also indicated that work on the Reservoir Intake structure will resume once the water level in the reservoir decreases to the required threshold.
Following the site inspection, Chairman Ghani convened a meeting at the project office, which included the General Manager of Tarbela Dam, the Project Director of the Fifth Extension Project, as well as various consultants and contractors. The focus of this meeting was to receive an overall briefing regarding the project’s progress, which is reportedly advancing concurrently at all six construction sites. The completion of the project is anticipated in 2025-26.
In his remarks during the meeting, Chairman Ghani underscored the necessity for coordinated efforts among consultants and contractors to adhere to the project schedule. He also highlighted the importance of allocating additional resources to facilitate this objective. The Tarbela Fifth Extension Project is an integral part of WAPDA’s environmentally sustainable and cost-effective electricity generation initiative. The financing for this ambitious project includes a substantial contribution of $390 million from the World Bank and $300 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Under this fifth extension initiative, three production units will be installed at Tunnel No. 5 of the Tarbela Dam Project, with each unit having a capacity of 510 megawatts. Once operational, the project is expected to supply an average of 1.347 billion units of hydroelectricity annually to the national grid. This development will elevate the total electricity production from Tarbela from its current capacity of 4,888 megawatts to an impressive 6,418 megawatts upon the completion of the extension, significantly enhancing the energy infrastructure of Pakistan.
