Electricity For Pakistan From Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project
Electricity For Pakistan From Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project: Neelum Jhelum hydropower project located in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) will generate 242 MW electricity. Till June 2018 it will be able to generate 969 MW of electricity in the national grid. In 2002, National Economic Council approved the project at the cost of Rs84.502 billion.
Why It Was Much Awaited?
- Strategic in nature
- State of the art capabilities
- world class hydro power facility executed in the deep mountains, only 10 % of the dam is on the surface, while 90 % is underground
- with capacity of 969MW electricity will generate 5,150 GegaWatts per hour at the levelised tariff of 13.50 rupees per unit for 30 years
- The project consists of three main components i.e. a dam, water-way system comprising 52-km long tunnels and an underground power house.
- Project will provide about 5 billion low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid every year with annual benefits of the project estimated at Rs.55 billion.
Obstacles Faced By Project
The project witnessed many disruptions on its way to completion.
- cost of the project has been revised five times
- Its initial cost was Rs80 billion but ended up at Rs500.343 billion
- 2005 earthquake caused design to be modified keeping in view the fault lines passing through the project site and the scope of the project was also increased then
- rising value of dollar also escalated the total cost of project
Role of Water And Power Development Authority (WAPDA) In Completion of Projects To Provide Electricity
For best operation of water and hydropower resources in the country, the WAPDA has been implementing a two-pronged strategy for the purpose. Under the strategy, not only the under-construction projects are being completed in the shortest possible time but new projects are also being initiated in both water and hydropower sectors. WAPDA is working to award contracts for Mohmand Dam and Diamer Basha Dam within a year to decrease significantly existing water storage and increase hydropower generation capacities in the country.
The Neelum Jhelum project began in January 2008, inaugurated by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, 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.
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