Work on the Tarbela 5th extension hydropower project in Pakistan has reached several key milestones, WAPDA has announced. Excavation of the raised intake shaft has been completed, along with installation of the draft tube inside the powerhouse. Construction is currently underway across seven major work fronts.
The project, being built on Tunnel No. 5 of the Tarbela Dam, is expected to start generating electricity in 2026. It will add 1530MW of capacity to the National Grid through three units of 510MW each. Once operational, it will supply an estimated 1.347 billion kilowatt-hours of low-cost, renewable energy annually.
The World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are financing the project with contributions of $390 million and $300 million, respectively. Upon completion, the total installed capacity of the Tarbela Dam will increase from 4,888MW to 6,418MW.
Groundbreaking for the $807 million project took place in August 2021 and was officiated by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan. The initiative is part of the government’s ‘Decade of Dams 2018–28’ strategy to expand renewable energy and improve water management.
