MWH Global has announced it has won contracts valued at $367.9 million for work on two hydropower projects in Pakistan.
The firm will serve as the owner's engineer in a $350 million contract awarded by Mira Power Limited for the 102MW Gulpur hydropower project on the Poonch River in the Kotli District of Azad Kashmir. It will also perform an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) at the site of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam under a $17.9 million contract by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Gulpur project is the third privately-developed hydro facility developed in Pakistan, and once completed will provide enough energy to power more than 50,000 households. Construction of the project commenced in January 2014 and the project is expected to be completed in August 2018. Prior to the owner's engineer contract, MWH performed on-site field reviews and advised on the ultimate design of the project, resulting in a reduced impact on the environment and local communities.
"We are keen to have MWH on this project," said Kiran Fatima, senior manager, project development & corporate finance at Mira Power Ltd. "Their initial excellent input in basic design finalization has not only resolved the critical environmental and resettlement issues but has also reduced the cost of the project."
The ESIA for the Diamer-Bhasha Dam will identify potential environmental, social economic, resettlement, and cultural impacts associated with the proposed dam project. Upon completion, the estimated $14 billion Diamer-Bhasha Dam project will supply 4500MW of hydropower to the national grid, extend the life of the Tarbela Dam by 35 years by reducing downstream siltation, provide flood control in the area and provide storage for irrigation use.
“Pakistan has a long history of embracing hydropower as a clean, renewable form of energy for its residents and we're proud to have helped meet their evolving needs over the last 50 years," said Joseph Adams, president of energy and industry for MWH. "As the country seeks additional energy sources to meet growing needs, we look forward to supporting these two key projects by deploying a diverse set of industry-leading experts."
