ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam will add clean power to the national grid next year as its fifth expansion project (T5) begins electricity generation. The project will produce 1,530 megawatts of hydroelectric power – supplying 1.347 billion affordable electricity units annually once fully operational by 2026.
Federal Water Resources Minister Moin Ahmed Wattoo confirmed the timeline during a site visit with WAPDA Chairman Naveed Asghar Chaudhry. He stated the expansion will reduce power shortages, cut load-shedding, and boost agriculture through improved water management.
The $690 million project on Tunnel 5 is jointly funded by the World Bank ($390 million) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank ($300 million). While construction is on schedule, WAPDA’s chairman noted final electricity costs per unit could rise due to global currency fluctuations.
