Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project Achieves Breakthrough

Tarbela 5th Extension Project Achieves Major Tunnel Breakthrough

Pakistan’s 1,530MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project has achieved a major tunnel breakthrough, connecting the raised intake shaft with the existing Tunnel 5 at Tarbela Dam. The milestone advances construction of the project, which will add three generating units and expand the dam’s hydropower capacity.

October 12, 20264 views0

Tunnel Breakthrough Advances Hydropower Expansion

Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has announced the successful breakthrough of a connecting tunnel at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project on the Indus River.

Chinese construction company Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA), responsible for the civil works, celebrated the achievement at the project site. The tunnel connects the raised intake shaft to the existing Tunnel 5, supporting the conversion of the irrigation tunnel into a power tunnel.

The project includes three generating units rated at 510MW each, providing a total additional installed capacity of 1,530MW. According to WAPDA, the extension is expected to generate approximately 1.466 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

International Contractors and Financing

POWERCHINA is delivering the civil works, while Harbin Electric International and Harbin Electric Machinery are responsible for the electromechanical works through a joint venture.

The project is financed by WAPDA, the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Upon completion, the extension is expected to increase Tarbela Dam’s installed generating capacity from 4,888MW to 6,418MW, strengthening Pakistan’s electricity supply and supporting its transition towards renewable energy.