The 720MW Karot hydropower project in Pakistan – the first hydropower tie-up developed by the China Three Gorges Corp under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – began commercial operation on Wednesday this week.
Located on the Jhelum River in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, the project started construction in April 2015. It is the fourth stage of the five cascade hydropower stations planned for the Jhelum River.
The project is expected to generate some 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year and will provide stable and cheap energy to Pakistan to meet the demand of electricity of roughly 5 million residents. China Three Gorges Corp said that during the construction of the project it provided scholarships for more than 20 public welfare projects such as schools, hospitals and roads for local communities, to promote development of surrounding communities. In addition, the project can provide more than 4,500 direct and indirect local jobs each year.
