Tarbela 4th project completed despite world-class difficulties

ISLAMABAD, Jun 11th (China Economic Net) – Tarbela hydropower station, one of the biggest and the most important electric power projects in Pakistan, its 4th (T4th) project was completed 27 days ahead of schedule on June 3rd. As the contractor of T4th, PowerChina also signed the contract for the extension of Tarbela Hydropower Station 5th phase (T5th) on May 6th.

Yang Heyi, the manager of Tarbela Project, told CEN that T4th project added three units to the power station, with an additional capacity of 1410MW, and increased the total installed capacity of the station to 4888MW. This also makes Tarbela the largest installed hydroelectric power station in Pakistan, accounting for 20% of the country's total installed capacity.

T4th has presented world-class challenges in the history of hydropower in many aspects, including the construction of a 100-meter-deep water sluice, the world's largest pressure steel pipe branch, and the construction of a deep-water straight-belted steel sheet pile cofferdam. The difficulties conquered by Pakistani and Chinese personnel laid a solid foundation for hydropower development in Pakistan even worldwide.

Around those difficulties, the project department has applied for 15 patents, published 2 papers, 11 achievement awards, and a number of construction methods have won awards in the water conservancy and electric power industry.

Yang said: “as T4th completed, Tarbela project will deliver more than 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the national grid each year and meet the electricity needs of 2 million households.

Yang said: “‘The process is tortuous, but the result is for the best,’ is the feeling of many employees who have been working on the project for eight years. T4th was faced with a complicated situation after its commencement, and it was a harsh challenge for us.”