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ISLAMABAD: Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project (GBHP) will start its full power generation capacity of 1450MW by the end of next month after functioning of fifth unit of 290MW.

'Pakistan Times' understands that the GBHP sources, four units having equal
generation capacity of 290 MW each, have already been started functioning and the last unit is due to start power generation after completing test operation.

Perspective

The Ghazi Barotha Hydro Power Project had started functioning early last year with first unit of 290MW and then three units became operational one by one according to schedule.

The management of the project has started release of water in its main Power Channel from February-16 after a gap of few weeks having maintenance work of the water channel.

The water was being reserved in the Barrage since February-9. The four power units were already functional producing electricity of 1160 MW, while fifth and the last unit of this project became operational on February 16, 2004 on experimental basis and the full production will be started from next month for achieving the target of 1450 MW electricity of the project.

Power Channel

The power channel was closed on January-18 when the WAPDA detected damages in the bed and sides of channel at certain points and alleged the Ghazi Barotha Contractors, (GBC), a consortium of national and multi-national construction firms, of using substandard material.

The authorities of WAPDA, APHC and GBC agreed to jointly determine the factual position through their experts by suspending power generation.

Inquiry Report

The complete inquiry report along with its findings were submitted to the Chairman WAPDA for further process of the case and fixing responsibility after the inspection of the power channel.

The Ghazi Barotha Contractors GBC, headed by Italian company Impregelo, was directed by the WAPDA to carry out repair work under defect liability period conditions effected till May-31 this year.

But, the GBC simply refused to accept the responsibility for the damages and held the Pakistan Hydro Consultants (PHC) responsible for designing a faulty structure of the project despite the fact that the GBC had constructed the 52-km-long and 40-ft-wide power channel.

Major n' Small Repairs

Meanwhile, the GBC under the defect liability period conditions carried out seven major and a number of small repairs in the power channel from zero to point 40.

The third biggest hydropower generation project of Ghazi Barotha was completed in 2003 at the total cost of more than 2 billion US dollars.

It has 1450MW power generation capacity and was producing 1160 MW till January-18 with four units, each of 290 MW, operating while the fifth one was expected to be made operational by the end of March, 2004.