Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Raghib Shah has said the contract for civil works of the 1,410 megawatt-Tarbela fourth extension project is likely to be awarded in March 2013, as pre-qualification process of the construction firms is almost complete.
During his maiden visit to the project as Chairman, Shah said that gigantic Tarbela Dam had been instrumental in economic development and social uplift of the country since its completion in mid 1970s. Benefits of the project will significantly increase, as electricity generation capacity of Tarbela Hydel Power Station will rise to 4,888 MW from the existing 3,478 MW with implementation of its fourth extension, for which World Bank is providing 840 million dollars.
Dilating upon the pace of work, the Chairman said that pre-qualification process of the firms for electro-mechanical works of the project would also be completed in the shortest possible time. He expressed satisfaction over the phenomenal response of the reputed firms from all over the world for Tarbela fourth extension project. That overwhelming response reflected their confidence in Wapda and Government of the Pakistan for water and hydropower projects, he added.
The Tarbela fourth extension project is a part of least-cost power generation strategy of Wapda aimed at adding a sizeable quantum of electricity to the national grid to mitigate power shortages and improving the ratio of low-priced hydel electricity in the overall system to stabilise the power tariff. On completion, Tarbela fourth extension project will provide about 3.84 billion units of electricity to the national grid every year. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at more than three billion rupees. The project will pay back its cost in a short span of just three years.
