Neelum-Jhelum second unit started Hydropower production at maximum capacity of 242.42 MW

LAHORE: Neelum-Jhelum second unit started hydroelectric power production  on Tuesday generating power to the utmost capability of 242.42 megawatts (MW), and conveying power to the national grid.

According to contractual obligation, at the moment plant is on three-day consistency test run, which will change to 30- day test run later on.

The fourth unit of  Neelum-Jhelum power plant was previously put into operation in April which added 1.3 million units of electricity into the system during the test run. However, the first unit’s reliability test run was done for 30-days on May 18 which was successfully cleared. The plant generated its maximum capacity of 242.25 MW with additional 200 million units into the system.

According to sources, the first unit will be taken over by WAPDA and thereafter, it was experience shut down for negligible adjustments.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on April 13 had officially inaugurated the first unit of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project, an engineering marvel in Muzaffarabad.

Neelum-Jhelum project is measured as one of the miracles of engineering, as it’s an underground project in a mountainous area foretelling estimated annual benefit of Rs 55 billion. The plan covers three main components of a dam, water-way system consisting of 52 kilometer (KM) long tunnels and an underground power house.

The project will also be providing low-priced hydel-power worth five-billion to the National Grid annually.

The generating units of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project are being completed according to the timelines and are passing through the required tests in accordance with the contractual obligations.

Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) are in joint venture for best possible utilization of water and hydro-power resources.

The idea behind is speedy completion of projects under construction and commencement of new water and hydropower projects to be completed in shortest possible time.

Furthermore, WAPDA is also making efforts to grant contracts for Mohmand Dam and Diamer-Basha Dam within a year, which will be beneficial for water storage and enormous increase in hydropower generation capacities.

In a nutshell, the Neelum-Jhelum project commenced in January 2008 for diversion of Neelum waters through tunnels constructed at Nauseri about 41 km from Muzaffarabad. The outfall for Jhelum River and its powerhouse are located in Chatter Kalas Muzaffarabad. The project holds the capacity to generate 5150 Giga Watts per hour (GWh) that is 5.15 billion units annually.