Muzaffarabad, 10 Aug, 2023 (GNP): The 969 megawatts Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project has restarted electricity generation after a year-long break, following the regeneration of its tail race tunnel, as Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) stated on Wednesday.
The project envisions redirecting the Neelum River from Nauseri village through a 51.7km below-the-ground tunnels system, a 48.2km headrace tunnel, and a 3.5km tail race tunnel with its outflow into the Jhelum River near Zaminabad village.
The hydropower project, including four units of 242.25MW capacity each, began generating electricity after its first unit was authorized in April 2018. The project managed to achieve its highest produced power in August 2018 with the enabling of all four units.
Following completion of restoration works, Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) has resumed electricity generation. Federal Minister for Water Resources visited NJHP to mark resumption of generation. At present, NJHP is providing 969 MW to the National Grid. pic.twitter.com/7KfFeBE4we
— WAPDA (@wapda_pr) August 9, 2023
According to a statement issued by WAPDA, the power production was unfortunately put at a halt in July 2022 because an obstruction occurred due to the falling of a section of its tail race tunnel. Before the stoppage, the hydropower project had installed more than 18 billion units of electricity into the national grid.
The Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah pressed a button and revealed a plaque on the premises of the powerhouse in Chattar Klas, almost 20km south of Muzaffarabad, to indicate the restarting of electricity generation from the project, on Wednesday.
Besides Shah, Federal Secretary Water Resources Hassan Nasir Jamy, WAPDA Chairman Sajjad Ghani, Joint Secretary Water Resources Syed Mehar Ali Shah, and many others were present at the ceremony.
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The federal minister thoroughly observed different departments of the powerhouse and was well-briefed by the project officials about those operational areas.
Moreover, Shah was also briefed that shortly after the fault happened, a Chinese construction company had taken on board to resolve the issue with the assistance of consultants and guidance from international experts.
As per sources, the repairing work had cost Rs3 billion.
Furthermore, Shah appreciated WAPDA, the project team along with the contractors and consultants for completing the restoration work and then recommencing power production.
“Today, 969MW of electricity has been added to the national grid, which will bring further improvement to the energy sector,” he said and requested the WAPDA chairman to give bonuses to the workers assigned to the project.
The minister asserted that over the previous 1.5 years, progress has been achieved on a number of other active hydropower projects. He hoped that the next administration will make sure that the projects completed on time so that the nation could get out of the energy crisis.
