Name of the Project
Neelum Jhelum hydroelectric project.

Location
The project envisages the diversion of Neelum river waters through tunnels at Nauseri, about 41 km upstream of Muzaffarabad, and out falling into the Jhelum river at Chatter Kalas, in Azad Jammu, and Kashmir, in Pakistan, where the powerhouse will be located.

Client
Pakistan Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Project Description
The project will comprise the construction of a 60-m-high composite dam (gravity and rockfill), with a gross head of 420 m, twin tunnels of 19.6 km in length, a single tunnel 8.94 km in length and a tailrace tunnel 3.54 km in length.

The dam will have a gross storage capacity of ten-million cubic metres and a live storage capacity of 2.8-million cubic metres.

The hydropower plant will include four turbines of 242.25 MW each for an installed capacity of 969 MW.

The project will contribute about five-billion units of electricity to the national grid every year.

Jobs to Be Created
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The project is expected to undergo wet testing by February 2018.

Latest Developments
Neelum Jhelum is scheduled to achieve a major milestone, when the second tunnel boring machine achieves breakthrough of the right headrace tunnel, marking the completion of excavation of the more than 68-km-long tunnel system. The breakthrough of left head race tunnel was achieved in October 2016.

Following the excavation of the tunnels, the waterway system will enter the final phase which is scheduled to be completed in seven months. Thereafter, the tunnels will be ready to divert water from the dam site to the power-house. The impounding of the reservoir will start during October.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Wapda, tel +92 42 9920 2211/+92 42 9920 2633 or email webinfo@wapda.gov.pk.