Concerted efforts are being made to complete the diversion system of the 4320MW Dasu Hydropower Project in Pakistan by April 2023 following recent floods in the area, with completion needed to allow construction work to start on main dam.
During a recent visit to the dam site, Chairman of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd), was briefed that construction activities have resumed on as many as nine sites after the recent floods, and was told that electricity generation of the project is likely to commence in 2026.
During the visit, the Chairman witnessed construction activities on various sites of the project including inlet areas of diversion tunnels, main access tunnel, power house cavern, right bank access road, WAPDA colony and the contractor's camp.
Located on the River Indus, upstream of Dasu town in Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Dasu hydropower project is being completed in two stages. At present, WAPDA is constructing stage-I with installed generation capacity of 2160MW and annual energy generation of 12 billion units of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity. Stage-II, when implemented, will also provide 9 billion units to the national grid. On completion of the both stages, Dasu will become the project with highest annual energy generation in Pakistan.
WAPDA is spending Rs. 17.34 billion on the schemes relating to resettlement, environmental management and social development in the project area. About 3722 jobs, including 1945 for locals, have so far been created, which will increase to 8000 mark during peak construction period of the project.
