WAPDA Chairman visits Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project

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Lahore - August 31, 2016: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (R) paid a comprehensive 3-day visit to the under-construction 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project located in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K).

Subsequent to assuming the charge of his office in the mid of last week, this was his maiden visit to this project of critical importance and required impetus to other pending projects in consonance with Government’s strategic direction of overcoming energy deficiency.

During the 3-day visit, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (R) had a detailed round of all sites of the project to review construction activities on them including main dam and spillways, earth and rock-filled composite dam, diversion tunnel, de-sander and headrace tunnel. During the second day, he visited river-crossing area in the headrace tunnel and witnessed the work going on for steel lining in river crossing area, tunnel excavation through tunnel boring machine (TBM) and concrete lining in headrace tunnel. On the third and last day of his visit, the Chairman reviewed construction activities at switchyard, underground powerhouse and transformers hall. During the visit, the Chairman expressed satisfaction over quality of construction works. He also appreciated skills of the engineers and the consultants. However, he showed concern over timelines and emphasized upon the project authorities that there is a need to reconcile these timelines in consultation with all stakeholders to achieve important time schedule.  

During the visit, the Chairman was accompanied by WAPDA Member (Water) Engineer Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal.

It is pertinent to mention that Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Company – a subsidiary of WAPDA – is constructing a world class underground power generation facility. The project envisages 90 percent construction work under high mountainous overburden and only 10 percent above the ground. On its completion, the project will contribute 5.15 billion units of low-cost and environment friendly electricity to the system each year.