The first unit of the 969MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project is set to be commissioned in June of next year. The other three – one at a time – will also come online by December 2017, said Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Zafar Mahmood.
During his visit, the chairman observed that progress on most of the components was ahead of the revised schedule.
He appreciated project authorities, consultants and contractors’ efforts to expedite construction work. However, he directed them to continue working simultaneously to complete the important project on time.
The chairman visited the dam site at the Nauseri river crossing at Majohi to attend the right tunnel and powerhouse break-through ceremony at Chattar Klas.
It is pertinent to mention that the two sections of the right tunnel – one excavated from the dam site and the other from the powerhouse – were connected on January 9 against the target date of January 15.
“The Neelum Jhelum project is a monument of the Pak-China friendship towards the development of hydropower in Pakistan,” said the chairman while performing the connecting ceremony of the two sections. He was also briefed that the project’s overall progress currently stood at 76%; out of the 68km long tunnel, 59km have been excavated, while 74% of the dam construction is complete.
The powerhouse and the switchyard of the project are scheduled to be completed in November this year.
Upon completion, the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project will contribute 5.15 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid.
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