Tarbela 5th extension project: ‘Power generation likely next year’

HARIPUR: A delegation of the World Bank was told on Thursday that the electricity generation from the 1530 MW-Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project was likely to commence in 2026.

The delegation, headed by its regional director for infrastructure in South Asia Pankaj Gupta, visited the under-construction 1530 MW-Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project here on Thursday.

Wapda Chairman Engr Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Ghani was also present on the occasion.The delegation had a detailed visit of several key sites, including raised intake, tunnel, penstock and power house, and witnessed ongoing construction activities of the project.

During the on-site briefing, the project director Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower project apprised the delegation that construction work on all seven key work fronts were in full progress at a required pace.

While highlighting the milestones achieved so far on the project, the delegation was briefed that excavations at raised intake shaft, penstock, power house and switchyard have been completed whereas concrete works at raised intake, power house, switch yard, tailrace culvert and canal were in progress.

Draft tubes of all three generating units have been installed likewise, installation of penstock pipes and electro-mechanical works at the switchyard are also in progress, the PD told the visiting dignitaries.

About the completion of the project within the given time, the PD told the delegation that the electricity generation from the project was likely to commence in 2026.The Wapda chairman thanked the World Bank for their support in harnessing the vital resources of water and hydropower in Pakistan.