A joint venture of Harbin Electric International Company and Harbin Electric Machinery Company (HEIC-HEMC) have won a US$241.1 million contract for electro-mechanical (E&M) works for the 1530MW Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project in Pakistan.
The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) awarded the contract following an international competitive bidding process. The contract was signed in late June by Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project Director (PD) Muhammad Azam Joya and HEIC-HEMC Vice President Zhang Yu Long on behalf of their organizations. WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd), WAPDA Member Finance Naveed Asghar, Member Water Abdul Zahir Khan Durrani, Managing Director (Administration) Khalid Saleem, WAPDA Secretary Fakharuzzaman Ali Cheema, General Managers concerned and representatives of the Consultants also attended the ceremony. It is worth mentioning that WAPDA has already awarded contract for civil works of the project in May.
Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is being constructed on Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is providing US$ 390 million for the project, while Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is loaning US$ 300 million.
Cumulative generation capacity of the project stands at 1530MW with three generating units of 510 MW each. The project, scheduled to start electricity generation by mid-2024, will provide 1.347 billion units of low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid on the average every year. With completion of Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, installed capacity at Tarbela Dam will rise from 4888MW to 6418MW.
Back in May, Power Construction Corporation of China Limited (PCCCL) was awarded a US$354.6 million contract for civil works at the project.
