The Neelum Jhelum Hydel Power Station is expected to begin energy generation by the end of July, thanks to frantic attempts to complete corrective work in the project’s tail race tunnel.
This was the main point of the management briefing presented to Chairman WAPDA Engr Lt Gen (Retd) Sajjad Ghani during his visit to the project on Monday.
According to a ministry statement, the chairman paid a thorough inspection of the 3.5-kilometer long tail race tunnel, particularly the problematic segment.
The consultants briefed the Chairman on the progress of rehabilitation operations, stating that concrete lining is being installed in the region that had fallen and produced a blockage of the tail race tunnel.
The remaining concerned region is being reinforced with lattice girders and rock bolting, followed by shotcrete inside the tunnel. The contractor has been working around the clock on rehabilitation projects in accordance with the recommendations of foreign consultants.
The chairman instructed the project team to execute the necessary repairs on schedule and restart the Neelum Jhelum Hydel Power Station by the end of the month, without compromising the project’s structural integrity.
Later, at the project site, Chairman WAPDA presided over the Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Company. Members of the BOD also went on a tour of the power plant and the tunnel.
It is worth noting that the 969 MW-Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project began producing electricity in April 2018. Prior to the closure of its tail race tunnel last year, the project had supplied the National Grid with more over 18 billion units of electricity.
