Dasu Dam
The Dasu Dam is a large hydroelectric gravity dam currently under construction on the Indus River near Dasu in Kohistan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is developed by Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), as a key component of the company's Water Vision 2025. The project was started in 2019 but faced a delay due to funds and land acquisition disputes. Work resumed in 2020 after land acquisition and arrangements of funding facility, the World Bank agreed[1] to contributed $700 million of the $4.2 billion as the government of Imran Khan decided to proceed ahead with the construction of the project, as part of his vision of reducing Pakistan's reliance on non-renewable energy.[2]
| Dasu Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Dasu Dam in Pakistan | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Location | Dasu, Kohistan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province |
| Coordinates | 35°19′02.16″N 73°11′35.78″E |
| Purpose | Power, water supply |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | January 2020 |
| Opening date | 2025 (est.) |
| Construction cost | $4.278 billion (stage I) |
| Owner(s) | Government of Pakistan |
| Operator(s) | Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity, roller-compacted concrete |
| Impounds | Indus River |
| Height | 242 m (794 ft) |
| Length | 570 m (1,870 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 1,410,000,000 m3 (1,140,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Dasu Hydropower Plant | |
| Coordinates | 35°17′47.03″N 73°12′44.59″E |
| Commission date | Early 2025 (stage I) |
| Hydraulic head | 171.59 m (563.0 ft) |
| Turbines | Stage I: 6 x 360 MW Francis-type Stage II: 6 x 360 MW Francis-type |
| Installed capacity | 4,320 MW |
| Annual generation | 21 TWh |
The 242 m (794 ft) tall dam will support a 4,320 MW hydropower station, to be built in two 2,160 MW stages. The plant is expected to start generating power in late 2024, and stage-I is planned to complete by early 2025.[3]
Water from the reservoir will be diverted to the power station located about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) downstream.[4]
Timeline
Dasu dam proposal was approved in 2001, as part of Government of Pakistan’s Vision 2025 program. Feasibility study was completed in 2009.[5]
The first stage was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on 29 March 2014. It will cost an estimated $4.278 billion.[6] Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended the dam's groundbreaking ceremony on 25 June 2014.[7]
Contracts for preparatory works of the project were awarded in the first half of 2015, and early construction works actually started in June 2017.[5]
The main civil works, undertaken by China Gezhouba Group Company Limited, started in February 2018. Work on the water diversion tunnel was inaugurated December 2018.[8]
In November 2019, WAPDA signed a Rs52.5 billion contract with a Chinese joint-venture, regarding electro-mechanical works. This contract includes design, supply and installation of the first stage's six 360 MW turbines, along with their generators, and transformers.[9]
As of December 2020, construction activities on the Main Civil Works (02 diversion tunnels, underground powerhouse, access tunnels), Right Bank Access Road, the relocation of Karakoram Highway, Project Colony, 132 kV transmission line, and Resettlement Sites for affected people are underway.[3]
Funding
The project cost was revised from an initial Rs486.093 billion to Rs510.980 billion, mainly because of escalation of land cost.[10]
Project is being financed by the World Bank (US$588 million), the Local Commercial financing from a consortium of Local Banks (Rs144 billion), and Foreign Commercial financing from Credit Suisse Bank ($350 million). WAPDA will also inject its equity equivalent to 15% of the project base cost.
On 1 April 2020, World Bank approved an additional $700 million in the financing, with the funds to be used for the 765 kV transmission line that will complete the first 2,160 MW phase of the project on the Indus River.[11]
Worker's bus incident
References
- Kiani, Khaleeq (2 April 2020). "World Bank okays another $700m for Dasu project". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- "WB okays additional financing of $700m for Dasu power project". 2 April 2020.
- "Project update: 4,320-MW Dasu hydropower on schedule to begin generation in 2024". Hydro Review. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- "Dasu Hydropower Project". Nippon Koei Co. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Dasu Hydropower Project, Indus River, Kohistan, Pakistan". Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- "Dasu hydropower project: Rs 486 billion approved by Ecnec". Business Recorder. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- "Boosting sales: Dasu dam to cement industry's growth". The Express Tribune. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- "Work on Munchora dam resumes". 12 December 2018.
- "Dasu Hydropower Project: WAPDA signs Rs52.5 bn contract with China for electro-mechanical work". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- "Dasu project's revised cost recommended to Ecnec".
- "World Bank approves additional $700 million for the Dasu project, Pakistan - International Water Power".
