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Pakistan’s Chinese-built Mohmand

Dam to be open by 2025

INDIA PAKISTAN’S Chinese-funded Mohmand Dam of the project in accordance with the timelines.
project is set to open by December 2025, the The delegation was told that Mohmand Dam
country’s Water & Power Development Author- is the 5th highest concrete-face-rock-fill Dam
ity (WAPDA) said this week during a site visit (CFRD) in the world.
by MPs. Construction work on as many as 13 sites is
The Mohmand Dam being is being built by simultaneously underway on the project. These
WAPDA on the River Swat in the Mohmand sites include diversion tunnels, power intake and
District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. power waterway, spillway, re-regulation pond,
The plant is being built as part of the China– left bank irrigation tunnel, switchyard, power
Pakistan Economic Corridor, which itself forms house, main dam abutment, access roads, and
a major element of China’s Belt and Road Initi- project colony.
ative (BRI). According to WAPDA, the Mohmand Dam
Voith Group’s Chinese subsidiary Voith Power House will generate 800 MW hydro
Hydro Shanghai (VHS) is to supply four 200- capacity, contributing 2.86 billion kWh per year
MW Francis turbine generator units after gain- of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity
ing an order from China Gezhouba Group Corp. to the national grid.
(CGGC), the plant’s builder. The dam will help mitigate flooding in the
A consortium of China Gezhouba Group, a Peshawar, Charsadda and Naushera areas and
subsidiary of ENERGY CHINA, and DESCON contribute to irrigation and provide drinking
Power Solutions of Pakistan is building the 800- water in the local area.
MW Mohmand Dam plant. The plant is the first flagship project to be
During the visit, the delegation had a round funded by the new government of Pakistan led
of the various components, including diversion by Imran Khan.
tunnels, spillway, dam axis, and power intake to “The Mohmand hydropower plant has been a
review progress on the project. dream project for years of both the Pakistan gov-
Junaid Akbar, a member of the National ernment and the people. The construction is of
Assembly’s Standing Committee on Planning, great significance. Once completed, the project
Development and Special Initiatives, said during will help mitigate flood disasters, enhance food
the tour that Mohmand Dam was a significant safety, alleviate power shortage and further drive
project to cope with water and energy needs of Pakistan’s social and economic development,”
the country. Therefore, on time completion of said Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in
the project is all the more important. October 2020.™
He directed WAPDA to ensure completion

Week 49 08•December•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P9