Efforts on to complete diversion system by April 2023;

 

Electricity generation likely to commence in 2026, Chairman WAPDA briefed

 

            September 14, 2022: Chairman WAPDA Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) visited Dasu Hydropower Project, being constructed on River Indus, upstream of Dasu town in Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. During the visit, the Chairman witnessed construction activities on various sites of the project including inlet areas of diversion tunnels, main access tunnel, power house cavern, right bank access road, WAPDA colony and the contractor's camp. Member (Water) WAPDA and Commissioner Hazara Division accompanied him during the visit.  Dasu project management and representatives of the consultants and the contractors were also present on the occasion.

 

  Earlier, the project management briefed the Chairman about pre and post-flood scenario on the project. He was briefed that construction activities have resumed on as many as 9 sites after the recent floods. Concerted efforts are being made to complete diversion system of the project by April 2023 to start construction work on main dam. The project is likely to start electricity generation by November 2026.

 

   It is worth mentioning that the 4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project is being completed in two stages. At present, WAPDA is constructing stage-I with installed generation capacity of 2160 MW and annual energy generation of 12 billion units of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity. The stage-II, when implemented, will also provide 9 billion units to the national grid. On completion of the both Stages, Dasu will become the project with highest annual energy generation in Pakistan i.e., 21 billion units on the average. WAPDA is spending Rs. 17.34 billion on the schemes relating to resettlement, environmental management and social development in the project area. About 3722 jobs, including 1945 for locals, have so far been created, which will increase to 8000 mark during peak construction period of the project.