The Pakistan Water Power Development Authority (Wapda) and China Power Construction Corporation (PCCCL) signed a contract worth US$354.6 million on Thursday. After the completion of the international competitive bidding process, the contract will be responsible for the 1,530 MW Tabela ( Tarbela) Civil works for the Fifth Hydropower Expansion Project.

The contract was signed by Mohamed Azam Choya, the person in charge of Tabela's fifth expansion project, and the executive representative of China Power Construction in Pakistan. Hussein, Director of Pakistan Water and Electricity Development Bureau, Najib, Director of Pakistan, World Bank, Dr. Ricard, World Bank Task Force Leader, Navid, Finance Member of Pakistan Hydropower Development Agency, Abdul, Water Affairs Member of Pakistan Hydropower Development Agency, Water Affairs Member Akhtar, project managers and project consultant representatives attended the signing ceremony.

The contract involves the renovation of the No. 5 tunnel, the heightening of the intake, the construction of power plants, tailraces (including waterways, culverts and sluices) and other projects. The project will be completed in 37 months. The first batch of devices will be put into production at the end of May 2024, the second batch of devices will be put into production before the end of June 2024, and the third batch of devices will be put into production at the end of July 2024.

The Director of Pakistan’s Water Resources and Hydropower Development Bureau Hussein said at the signing ceremony that in order to increase Pakistan’s water storage capacity and increase the share of cheap and clean hydropower in Pakistan’s national grid, the Pakistan Water Resources and Hydropower Development Bureau is building 10 projects, including towers. The fifth expansion project of Bella.

He emphasized the benefits of the Tabela project for economic development and social progress, and expressed his belief that the Tabela Fifth Hydropower Expansion Project will be completed in accordance with the stipulated time.

The project is currently under construction on the No. 5 tunnel of the Tabela Dam, and the approved PC-I fee is US$807 million. The World Bank’s lending institution, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), will provide US$390 million for the project, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will provide US$300 million in financing. The cumulative power generation capacity of the project is 1530 MW, with three units of 510 MW each. The project is planned to start power generation in mid-2024, and will provide 1.347 billion units of low-cost electricity to the Pakistan National Grid every year.

With the completion of the fifth expansion of the Tabela hydropower project, the installed capacity of the Tabela Dam will increase from 4,888 MW to 6,418 MW. Editor/Sang Xiaomei