Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant
Neelum–Jhelum Dam | ||
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Annual generation 4,630 GWh [2] | |
The Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant is part of a
The plant had managed to reach 1040 MW production on a few occasions, which is beyond its capacity and a rare precedence in hydel power sector.[4]
Background
After being approved in 1989, the design was improved, increasing the tunnel length and generation capacity. The project was intended to begin in 2002 and be completed in 2008 but this time-frame experienced significant delays due to problems meeting rising costs.[5] Additionally, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which devastated the region required a redesign of the project to conform to more stringent seismic standards.[6]
On 7 July 2007, the China consortium CGGC-CMEC (Gezhouba Group and China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation) were offered a contract to construct the dam and power station. Terms were settled by the end of the year and in January 2008, the letter of commencement was issued. On 8 February, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf announced that the project would begin.[7] In October 2011, the diversion tunnel required to reroute the Neelum River around the dam site was completed.[8]
On 1 November, Pakistan's Prime Minister
In March 2017, it was reported that the cost of the dam had escalated to PKR 500 billion.[14] thus the cost of electricity from Neelum Jhelum will be Pakistani Rupees 20 per unit.[15]
All the civil work including tunnel boring, installation of generators and turbines was completed and water filling of the dam began on 17 October 2017 to put it on the test.[16]
In October 2017, residents of Muzaffarabad expressed serious concerns that the commissioning of Neelum Jhelum project will drastically reduce the flow of Neelum river thru Muzaffarabad town.[17]
In January 2018, it was reported that the retaining wall of the rock filled dam has got shifted by 18mm from its original position in Nov 2017 when the dam was loaded to design height of 1017 meter. The electricity generation from the dam may be delayed to June–July 2018.[18]
In early March 2018, it was reported that the filling of water in the head race tunnel has started and the first unit will start electricity generation by end-March, followed by the second, third and fourth units at one month intervals respectively.[19]
In April 2018, the first unit of 242.25 MW was commissioned at a levelised tariff of Rs 13.50 per unit.[citation needed]
The strategically crucial Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project achieved a historic landmark, as the project attained its maximum generation capacity of 969 megawatts (MW) on 14 August 2018.[3]
Impact of India's Kishanganga Project
In 2007, India began construction of a run of the river power station on the Neelum River (called Kishanganga in India) upstream of the Neelum–Jhelum Dam. The
In 2010, Pakistan raised a dispute under the Indus Waters Treaty, taking it to the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The court ruled that India was permitted to divert waters from one tributary to another for power generation, and it had priority as it started the Kishanganga project before Neelum–Jhelum.[24][25]
The Kishanganga project became operational on 19 May 2018.[26]
Design and operation
The Neelum–Jhelum Dam is a 60 m (197 ft) tall and 125 m (410 ft) long
The tail race tunnel of the dam cracked, collapsed and got blocked in July 2022 leading to the shutdown of the power plant.[27] It resumed power generation on August 9, 2023 after the completion of restoration works in the tail race tunnel.[28] Repairs of 3.5km TRT cost the nation about Rs6bn, in addition to about Rs37bn in energy loss during repairs, maintenance, and testing over the following 20 months. WAPDA has filed about Rs43bn insurance claims for the losses.[29] On April 3, 2024, electricity generation from the Neelum-Jhelum Hydel Power Station was restricted to 530 MW due to decrease in head race tunnel pressure. On May 3, 2024, electricity generation from the Neelum-Jhelum Hydel Power Station was stopped for the physical inspection of the head race tunnel to locate and fix the problem.[30]
Corruption allegations
It is alleged that the procurement of TBM machines resulted in $74 million in kickbacks, according to Transparency International Pakistan.[31]
See also
- List of dams and reservoirs in Pakistan
- List of power stations in Pakistan
- Satpara Dam
- Allai Khwar Hydropower Project
- Gomal Zam Dam
- Tarbela Dam
References
- ^ "Neelum-Jeelum Hydropower Station". China Gezhouba (Group) Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ https://nepra.org.pk/tariff/Tariff/CPPAG/2021/PAR-10%20CPPAG-NJ%20Hydro%2030-07-2021%2033015-17.PDF [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b "Neelum-Jhelum project attains full generation capacity of 969MW". 14 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum generates power 'beyond' its installed capacity". 10 April 2019.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project" (PDF). Water Info. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project delayed for 7–8 months". The News (Pakistan). 22 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ^ "Commencement of Neelam- Jhelum Hydroelectric Project". China Gezhouba Group Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Jhelum Hydropower Project Dam Diversion Tunnel completed". OfficialNews.pk. 11 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "PM displeased with delay in Neelum-Jhelum project". International News. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Nhelum Jhelum Hydropower Project". Water and Power Development Authority. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (4 September 2014). "Neelum-Jhelum project facing financial problems". Dawn. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "Chinese engineer among four killed in Neelum-Jhelum dam accident". Dawn. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum project enters terminal phase: CEO".
- ^ "Cost of 969mw Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project increased to Rs 500bln | Pakistan Today". 9 March 2017.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum project's electricity to cost Rs20 per unit".
- ^ "Water filling begins at Neelum-Jhelum project". 17 October 2017.
- ^ "PPP calls on Wapda, govt to address concerns regarding Neelum-Jhelum project". 29 October 2017.
- ^ "Will Neelum-Jhelum project get operational by March 23?".
- ^ "Hydel power: Neelum-Jhelum set to start electricity generation". March 2018.
- ^ "Neelum-Jhelum project contract awarding: delay led India to begin Kishanganga hydel works". FOREX.pk. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
- ^ "Korean company to construct 350-MW Athhmuqam hydropower facility in Pakistan". 10 June 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
- ^ Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Arbitration & Kishenganga project, The Hindu 25 June 2010.
- ^ Omair Ahmad (15 June 2018). "The Indus Waters Treaty: caught between a dispute and a hard place". The Third Pole. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
- S2CID 147011615
- ^ "Narendra Modi inaugurates Kishanganga hydropower project in Kashmir". 19 May 2018.
- ^ "969MW project shut after damage detected". 7 July 2022.
- ^ "Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project resumes power generation after tail race tunnel repairs". Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Kiani, Khaleeq (16 April 2024). "969MW Neelum-Jhelum project in trouble, again". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Neelum Jhelum plant shutdown for physical inspection". 3 May 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "NAB, PM Secretariat reluctant to take action". 3 January 2013.