By Muhammad Luqman
Pakistan has awarded a contract worth Rs 442 billion ($5.85 billion) to a consortium of Chinese and Pakistani companies for construction of Diamir- Bhasha Dam, a major hydropower project over river Indus to cope with the country’s growing energy requirements.
An agreemen with a joint venture comprising Power China and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) was signed in the capital Islamabad on Wednesday for the construction of diversion system, main dam, access bridge and 21MW Tangir Hydropower Project.
Diamer-Basha Dam Chief Executive Officer Amir Bashir Chaudhry and authorised representative of the consortium, Yang Jiandu signed the agreement on behalf of WAPDA and the joint venture respectively.
Water Resources Minister Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Water Resources Federal Secretary Muhammad Ashraf, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain, Pakistan Army Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz and Frontier Works Organisation DG Maj Gen Kamal Azfar were also attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Water Resources Minister Faisal Vawda congratulated WAPDA and Power China-FWO Joint Venture, saying that the event is a good omen for the construction of much-needed dams in Pakistan. He said that the construction of Diamer Basha Dam will commence within a few weeks.
Dilating upon the developments of the water sector by the incumbent govenrment, the minister said that after Mohmand Dam, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in May last year, Diamer Basha is the second mega multi-purpose dam that is to be started in a span of just one year.
Speaking on the occasion, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) said that Diamer Basha Dam will go a long way for economic development and social uplift of the country.
Diamer Basha Dam Project, with a total financial outlay of about Rs1406.5 billion, will be completed in 2028.
The $14 billion dam, to be constructed on the River Indus in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, which borders China, is set to produce 4500MW of affordable electricity, said the statement by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA)
“The 6.4 MAF [million acre foot] water storage capacity of the dam will reduce the current water shortage in the country of 12 MAF to 6.1 MAF,” statement said, adding that it will also add 35 years to the life of Tarbela Dam – one of the two major dams in Pakistan – by reducing sedimentation.
Some 78.5 billion rupees ($1.03 billion) will be spent on social development of the area around the dam, mainly on resettlement of the population.
“It will also be a major source of flood mitigation and save billions worth of damages caused by floods each year,” the statement said.
