LAHORE - WAPDA held the first pre-bid meeting for main civil works of the Stage-I of Dasu Hydropower Project at the Authority’s Head Office on Monday.
These works consist of MW-01 Dam and its appurtenant structures and MW-02 Underground Powerhouse and its appurtenant structures. The bid documents of these works were issued on February 12 to the pre-qualified bidders for submission on May 12.
Representatives of all the eight pre-qualified firms and joint ventures (four contractors from Turkey, one each from China, Italy, Vietnam, and South Korea) attended the meeting, said WAPDA spokesperson.
The meeting was presided over by WAPDA Member (Water) Muhammad Shoaib Iqbal, while Member (Finance) Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Dasu Hydropower Project General Manager Haji M Farooq, General Manger (CCC) Nasir Hanif, representatives and project’s consultants were present on the occasion.
The member Water thanked the representatives for their participation. He encouraged them to participate in the bidding, and promised them a level-playing field as well as all-out support from WAPDA.
Later, the project’s consultants gave a detailed presentation on technical aspects of the project and the bidding process.
Dasu Hydropower Project financial advisor briefed the participants about financial strategy related to the project.
Afterwards representatives of the pre-qualified firms and joint ventures raised their queries regarding the project and the bidding process, in question-answer session.
The queries were responded to by the concerned officials accordingly. The member (Water) reminded the participants that the questions discussed during the meeting may be considered informal and requested them to send their queries in writing so that the official response could be conveyed. Regarding extension in the submission date, the member Water clearly stated that WAPDA was not even ready to think over it.
WAPDA member finance clarified the participants about current status of raising finances. For the purpose of payment to the contractors in local and foreign currencies, the local and foreign banks are mandated to raise the money in local currency and $, respectively.
The Stage-1 of Dasu Hydropower Project is estimated to cost $4.3 billion.
Five contracts of preliminary works were awarded and the contractors have started the work at sites: Relocation of Karakoram Highway, worth Rs. 14.538 billion, construction of Right Bank Access Road, worth Rs. 2.713 billion, construction of 132 kilovolt (KV) transmission line from Duber Khwar Hydel Power Station to Dasu, worth Rs 1.583 billion, construction of the project colony and allied infrastructure, worth Rs 4.8 billion and construction of resettlement sites and Shatial Museum, worth Rs.571.95 million.
Dasu Hydropower Project’s 2160 MW-Stage-I is scheduled to be completed in five years, and will contribute more than 12 billion units of cheap, affordable and environment-friendly electricity to the national grid every year.