ISLAMABAD: About 47 per cent of construction work of Tarbela’s 4th Extension Power Project has been completed so far and the project will be completed by June 2017.
This was revealed by Tarbela 4th Extension Power Project’s Director Shoail Khan, while talking to APP. He said that the project would cost $920 million and additional 1410 MW cheaper hydel electricity would be generated. He said that earlier the project was scheduled to be completed in 2018, but on the directive of the prime minister, work was expedited on the project and now it would be ready by June 2017.
Sohail Khan said that the World Bank was providing $ 840 million for the project while Water and Power Development Authority arranged the remaining $ 80 million. He said that three units of 370 MW each would be installed at the power house which would enhance the total electricity generation to 4888 MW from the existing 3478 MW.
Dilating upon the benefits of the project, he said that the project having three units of 370MW each would produce 3,840GWh of cheap hydropower at a time when electricity needs would be at peak in hot and humid weather.
Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at around Rs 30.7 billion. The project will pay back its cost in just three years.