China’s CGGC led joint venture lands Mohmand Dam contract

LAHORE: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) on Tuesday awarded the long-delayed contract for civil and electromechanical works of Mohmand Dam Project to a joint venture (JV) of China Gezhouba Group of Companies (CGGC), as the lead firm, and Descon Engineering, as its partner.

A statement said the contract agreement was signed at Wapda House by the

representatives of the authority and China Gezhouba Group of Companies-DESCON JV on behalf of their organisations.

A Water and Power Development Authority spokesman termed it a giant leap forward for the development of precious water resources in the country.

The final contract is worth Rs183.523 billion, saving Rs18 billion from the approved PC-1.

It is worth mentioning here that Wapda has been able to successfully realign Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project after a delay of decades, removing the legal, financial, and technical snags.

Muzammil Hussain, chairman Water and Power Development Authority, addressing the signing ceremony, said Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project would phenomenally contribute

towards water, food and energy security of Pakistan.

“Wapda is committed to completing the project as early as possible to cope with the ever increasing needs of water and electricity in the country,” Hussain said.

He expressed the hope the dam would go a long way in stabilising the national economy besides alleviating poverty and ushering in an era of development in the project area.

Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project is historic and unique in nature being constructed on River Swat in tribal district Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The project is scheduled to be completed in five years and eight months.

On completion, the project will store about 1.2 million acre feet (MAF) of water,

generate 800 megawatt (MW) of low-cost hydel electricity and help mitigating

floods in Peshawar, Charsadda and Naushera.

Besides supplementing 160,000 acres of existing land, about 16,700 acres of new land will also be irrigated because of Mohmand Dam.

In addition, 300 million gallon water per day will also be provided to Peshawar for drinking purpose. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs. 51.6 billion.