Tarbela 5th Extension Project achieves major tunnel breakthrough

ISLAMABAD – Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has announced the successful breakthrough of a connecting tunnel at the 1,530-megawatt Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, marking another milestone in the development of the country’s hydropower capacity. The tunnel connects the raised intake shaft with the existing Tunnel 5 of Tarbela Dam. Chinese construction company Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), the project’s civil works contractor, celebrated the achievement at the project site. The breakthrough marks an important step toward completing the project, which aims to expand Pakistan’s supply of clean, renewable electricity and strengthen the national power system. Located at Tarbela Dam on the Indus River, the project will convert the existing irrigation Tunnel 5 into a power tunnel and install three generating units of 510 MW each, adding a total of 1,530 MW of installed capacity. The project is expected to generate approximately 1.466 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, according to WAPDA. POWERCHINA is responsible for the civil works, while Chinese companies Harbin Electric International and Harbin Electric Machinery are undertaking the electromechanical works through a joint venture, Gwadar Pro reported. The project is being financed by the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and WAPDA. Once completed, the extension will increase Tarbela Dam’s installed power generation capacity from 4,888 MW to 6,418 MW, contributing to Pakistan’s growing electricity needs and its transition toward cleaner energy.

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