The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has signed a deal worth Rs.1.68 billion with China CMAC Engineering Company for Package-9 of the Mangla Refurbishment Project which involves upgrading the project’s switchyard.
WAPDA is implementing the Mangla Refurbishment Project with an approved PC-I cost of Rs.52.224 billion. The project, on its completion, will enhance generation capacity of the existing Mangla hydropower station from 1000MW to 1310 W. The refurbishment works have been divided into 11 different packages.
Prior to signing Package-9 today, five other packages have already been awarded and the works are in progress .
The Mangla Refurbishment Project will be implemented in various phases, wherein the generating units will be refurbished by closing down one tunnel (two generating units) at a time. Refurbishment of the first two units will be completed in 2019, while refurbishment of all 10 generating units is likely to be accomplished by year 2024.
USAID is providing a US$150 million grant for the project while AFD is providing a €90 million loan. The rest of the project will be financed by WAPDA through loans and from its own resources.
