Mohmand Dam recovers in one week after heavy rain disruption

Aerial view of Mohmand Dam project at present. [Photo/Energy China]

PERSHAWA, Aug 13 (Gwadar Pro) - Construction at the Mohmand Hydropower Project has resumed at full pace after severe flooding temporarily disrupted operations earlier this summer.

According to a statement released by Energy China on Tuesday, the project team responded rapidly to heavy rainfall that inundated parts of the site. Workers mobilized within hours, draining flooded areas, repairing damaged equipment, and clearing access roads. “Thanks to their dedication and efficiency, all key tasks were completed within just one week, and construction is now back in full swing,” the company said.

The quick recovery follows severe flash floods that struck the Swat River region in June and July 2025, triggered by intense pre-monsoon rains. The disaster caused widespread displacement, infrastructure damage, and multiple fatalities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Swat Valley where the Mohmand Dam is under construction.

Phase II of the project was inaugurated in May 2025, and the completion target of 2026–2027 remains unchanged. With construction now back at full capacity, project managers remain confident that the Mohmand Hydropower Project will be completed on schedule, delivering critical energy, water security, and flood protection.

The Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, about 37-48 kilometers north of Peshawar, is a multipurpose infrastructure initiative aimed at generating 800 MW of clean electricity annually, storing 1.29 million acre-feet of water, supplying 300 million gallons of drinking water to Peshawar daily, and improving irrigation for over 178,000 acres.

Designed to protect downstream areas from floods and boost the economy by over Rs51 billion annually, the project features Pakistan’s tallest and the world’s fifth-highest concrete-faced rock-fill dam, standing 213 meters high and 2,500 feet long. Equipped with four 200 MW Francis turbines from Voith Hydro, the first unit is expected online in late 2026, supported by major structures including diversion tunnels, a spillway, power intakes, and a powerhouse connected to a 220 kV switchyard.