Excavation of tunnels network starts Neelum Jhelum HEP

Lahore: Excavation of 47-kilometer long network of tunnels, one of the main works of 969 MW Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project (NJHEP), started at project site near Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The tunnel network is meant for diversion of the Neelum River water to outfall into the Jhelum River near Chattar Kalas.

NJHEP General Manager Hasnain Afzal and representative of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) witnessed the blasting of rocks for excavation. Neelum Jhelum Project is of immense importance, as it would inject low-cost hydel electricity in National Grid. IDB and other Middle East donors had already consented to finance the project.

The contract for NJHEP was awarded to Chinese consortium comprising China Gezhouba Group Company and China Machinery Import and Export Corporation. Construction works like access roads, offices and colonies for contractor and consultant was started last year. The main works of the project have started with the tunnel activity. It is pertinent that the total cost of the project has been estimated at Rs 130 billion. On its completion, the project will contribute 5.15 billion electricity units annually to the National Grid.