Government releases Rs 25 billion for Basha-Diamer dam

[dawn_news]

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 - Multan—Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said Monday the government was taking action against power pilferers without any discrimination.

Addressing a press conference here he said “The government is working on emergency basis to resolve the electricity crisis. Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is concerned over the issue and wants to end loadshedding as early as possible.”

He said the Guddu thermal power plant has started generation before eight months of its completion which also saved Rs 60 billion. The Uch-2 power plant will generate 402 megawatt and work on the project continues rapidly, he added.

He said a 600 MW project at Port Qasim at a cost of Rs 200 billion would be completed with the cooperation of Qatar and China in three and a half years. He also mentioned inauguration of different projects including the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur.

Abid Sher Ali said the groundbreaking of a coal power plant in Jamsharo would be performed in August. On the Diamer Basha dam, he said the government had released Rs 25 billion for acquisition. “The groundbreaking of Kohala and Karoot power projects will be performed soon and both projects would generate 700 MW each,” he added.

About Tarbela extension, he said that work on Tarbela Extension-4 was in progress while work on Tarbela-5 would begin soon. The state minister said they had found 25 feeders in Mepco region with huge losses. “There will be more loadshedding in the feeders as compared to other areas. We have installed electronic meters at feeders to trace losses,” he added.

The state minister also suspended the executive engineer (XEN) cantonment on different complaints. Meanwhile, govt heading in right direction to revive economy, end energy crisis: Economist Dr. Saboor Ghayoor has said that the incumbent government has set three top priorities; rehabilitation of energy sector.—Agencies

@ziaulislam good news, work on Tarbela ext 5 will also start this year.

 

[ziaulislam]

we still dont see a detail feasibility study anywhere. however, its possible as most of work including tunnel is already done decades ago. even the transmission wouldn't be issue due to already present infrastructure, all the govt has to do is to add a few more high voltage cables.
work on the fourth extension is in full progress, i belong to ghazi(tarbela) myself, my cousin says alot of people have been hired for the project.
Austria had offered to fully finance the project if given to them without bidding(they lost the bid in tarbela IV project).
Pakistan total production was around 88 billion units in 2012.
the project will add another 2 billion units and more if bhasha dam is completed.

we aslo need to build dams on river kabul upstream(on river kunar before it enters Afghanistan to become river kabul) to allow more water release from tarbela to generate power.
currently tarbela power is at its least due to high flow in river kabul as provices dont need water right now for irrigation.
this means low production at tarbela, ghazi brotha and chasma

pakistan is blessed with water. over average flow is 150 MAF against eygpt for example where nile has mere 50 MAF flow but there gigantic dam on nile ensure proper use of all water.

 

[dawn_news]

we still dont see a detail feasibility study anywhere. however, its possible as most of work including tunnel is already done decades ago. even the transmission wouldn't be issue due to already present infrastructure, all the govt has to do is to add a few more high voltage cables.
work on the fourth extension is in full progress, i belong to ghazi(tarbela) myself, my cousin says alot of people have been hired for the project.
Austria had offered to fully finance the project if given to them without bidding(they lost the bid in tarbela IV project).
Pakistan total production was around 88 billion units in 2012.
the project will add another 2 billion units and more if bhasha dam is completed.
we aslo need to build dams on river kabul upstream(on river kunar before it enters Afghanistan to become river kabul) to allow more water release from tarbela to generate power.
currently tarbela power is at its least due to high flow in river kabul as provices dont need water right now for irrigation.
this means low production at tarbela, ghazi brotha and chasma

pakistan is blessed with water. over average flow is 150 MAF against eygpt for example where nile has mere 50 MAF flow but there gigantic dam on nile ensure proper use of all water.

Tarbela 4 extension will ad 3.84 billion units, 5th extention similar amount. While Basha dam i think 18 billion units a year.

 

[ziaulislam]

Thnx for correction but point is that its difficult to estimate exact amount of units due to variable flow, it will be more uniform and there will be units if an upstream reservoir is built like bhasha .the same goes for Dasu, that's why bhasha is now more imp than any other project

 

[dawn_news]

Thnx for correction but point is that its difficult to estimate exact amount of units due to variable flow, it will be more uniform and there will be units if an upstream reservoir is built like bhasha .the same goes for Dasu, that's why bhasha is now more imp than any other project

Government releasing $250 million is good news for Basha. But by next year or two much more will be needed. Hopefully GCC banks can provide loan in case WB, ADB back off. And yes Basha is most important dam, not only own its own because of storage capacity and power generation but also for Dasu and Tarbella.