LAHORE: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) achieved yet another landmark towards energy security of the country, as Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project started electricity generation on Monday.
The first generating unit, put into operation has started providing electricity to the national grid.
To mark the significant development of electricity generation from the first unit, WAPDA Chairman Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain (r) visited Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project.
Congratulating the WAPDA project management, consultants and contractors on successful commissioning of the first unit, the chairman said that WAPDA was able to achieve this target with blessings of Almighty Allah and devotion and hard work of the engineers and other officials associated with the project.
Highlighting significance of the project in economic development and social uplift of the country, he said that Prime Minister Shahid Kahaqan Abbasi would formally inaugurate Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project in the second week of March. Under the 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, three electric power generating units – each of them having capacity of 470 MW – have been installed at the tunnel 4 of Tarbela Dam.
He said that the first unit had started electricity generation. The second unit is scheduled to be commissioned by end of April, while the third unit is schedule to start electricity generation by May-end.
The chairman said that the WAPDA was determined to add 2,487MW low-cost hydro-electricity to the national grid by June 2018 with phased completion of its three hydropower projects, including the 108MW-Golen Gol, 969MW-Neelum Jhelum and the 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension.
“It is worth mentioning here that the 1,410MW Tarbela 4th Extension is a component of least-cost energy generation plan being implemented by WAPDA on priority to meet electricity requirements in the country and increase the ratio of hydro-electricity in the national grid to stabilise electricity tariff for the consumers.”
He added, “With the completion of the project, generation capacity of the existing Tarbela Hydel Power Station will increase to 4,888MW from the existing 3,478MW.”
The Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project will provide 3.84 billion units of electricity to the national grid per annum. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs 30 billion. The project would pay back its cost in just three years.
Published in Daily Times, February 27th 2018.