Daily Times

LAHORE: Second unit of Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectric power project on Tuesday started generating power to its maximum capacity of 242.42 megawatts (MW).

The power plant is now working up to its optimum point and is transmitting power to the national grid.

As per the contractual requirement, the plant will be on a three-day reliability test run which would later turn into a 30-day test. However, the plant will be generating power to its maximum capacity.

The Neelum-Jhelum power plant’s fourth unit was earlier put into operation in April which added 1.3 million units of electricity into the system during the test run.

The first unit was put on a reliability test run for 30-days on May 18 which was successfully cleared. The plant generated its maximum capacity of 242.25 MW with additional 200 million units into the system.

The first unit will be taken over by WAPDA after it will be shut down for minor adjustments.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on April 13 had officially inaugurated the first unit of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project, an engineering marvel in Muzaffarabad.

Neelum-Jhelum project is considered to be an engineering wonder as it is planned underground in a mountainous area that may reap an estimated annual benefit of Rs 55 billion. The plan covers three main components of a dam, water-way system consisting of 52 kilometer (KM) long tunnels and an underground power house.

The project will also be providing low-priced hydel-power worth five-billion to the National Grid annually.

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has been implementing a joint strategy for optimal consumption of water and hydro-power resources. The strategy focuses on fast completion of projects under construction and initiation of new water and hydropower projects to be completed in shortest possible time.

WAPDA has been making efforts to grant contracts for Mohmand Dam and Diamer-Basha Dam within a year. The grants for both the dams will assist in making up for water storage and hydropower generation capacities are expected to increase immensely.

The Neelum-Jhelum project commenced in January 2008 for diversion of Neelum waters through tunnels constructed at Nauseri about 41 km from Muzaffarabad. The outfall for Jhelum River and its powerhouse are located in Chatter Kalas Muzaffarabad. The project holds the capacity to generate 5150 Giga Watts per hour (GWh) that is 5.15 billion units annually.