Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Chinese embassy in Pakistan congratulated the Pakistanis on the achievement of a mega project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Congratulations! The 720MW (Megawatt) Karot Hydropower Project, the first Hydropower Project (HPP) under CPEC, achieved another major milestone,” the embassy tweeted.
It added: “After completion, it will reduce CO2 emissions by about 3.5 mn (million) tons each year. It is turning the clean and green vision of CPEC into reality.”
The Karot Hydropower Project, the first hydropower project under CPEC, achieved a major milestone towards the commercial operation date (COD) last week as it successfully hoisted its fourth and final rotor at the powerhouse.
The rotor is an important component used for the excitation function, which is essential to power generation. This step is another major milestone toward the COD of the first CPEC Hydro Power Project which is expected to be achieved in June 2022.
Each unit can produce 180MW of power and the total hydropower potential of Karot HPP is 720MW, which is expected to achieve commercial operation by June 2022.
The Karot Hydropower project, located at a distance of about 76 Km from Islamabad, has total installed capacity of Karot HPP is 720 MW with an annual electricity generation of 3,206 Gigawatt (Gwh). The project is equipped with four state of art Francis turbines and will fulfill the needs of five million consumers throughout Pakistan.
Since the groundbreaking of the project in April, 2016, the Chinese and Pakistani engineers and workers at the project have jointly overcome different challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, a series of achievements have been made such as the river closure, reservoir impoundment, completion of transmission line, lifting of the first, second and third rotor.
