LAHORE – The World Bank will provide around $850 million for Tarbela 4th Extension Project. The project, which is expected to be completed in four years, will generate 1410MW electricity. After completion of Tarbela 4th Extension Project, the generation capacity of Tarbela Power Station will rise to 4888MW.
This was stated by WAPDA Member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah while addressing a delegation of Pakistan Navy War College here at WAPDA House on Thursday. WAPDA Member (Power) Muhammad Qasim Khan, Managing Director (Administration) Naveed Akram Cheema, Secretary Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar and other officers were also present on the occasion.
The Member (Water) said that in view of the increasing needs of water and power in the country, WAPDA was implementing a number of projects in the two sectors. Diamer Basha Dam (with gross water storage capacity of 8.1 million acre feet and power generation capacity of 4500 MW), Bunji (7100MW) and Dasu (4320MW) hydropower projects, Munda Dam multi-purpose project (gross water storage capacity 1.29 MAF and power generation capacity of 740MW) and Kurram Tangi Dam (gross water storage capacity 1.2 MAF and power generation capacity of 84MW) are to name a few, he added.
The Member (Water) said that three projects with cumulative generation capacity of 350MW would be completed this year, while 969-MW Neelum Jhelum and 106-MW Golen Gol hydropower projects were scheduled to be completed in 2016.
Responding to a question, the Member (Water) said that the government was simultaneously implementing short, medium and long-term strategies to control floods.
Earlier, WAPDA General Manager (Hydro) Planning Hasnain Afzal, briefing the delegation, said that 20 million acres of virgin land could be developed for agriculture provided water was made available by constructing new dams. He also informed the delegation about WAPDA’s achievements, future projects, and new initiatives etc. PEPCO General Manager (Coordination & Monitoring) Zia-ur-Rehman briefed the delegation about electricity demand and supply scenario, national power sector energy plan and issues related to electricity tariff.
Later, Member (Water) and delegation head Commander Usman Tariq exchanged souvenirs.