ISLAMABAD: The Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Electric Power (NJHEP) project has produced nearly two billion units (kWh) of power in the first eight months of the ongoing fiscal year 2021-22.
According to the information available with INP-WealthPK, power generation during July-February period was approximately 2,022 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) which is equal to a revenue of around Rs18 billion.
The project started its operations with the testing and commissioning of the first unit on April 9, 2018, while phased synchronization of three other units was completed on August 14, according to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
The project meets its maximum generation capacity when all four units (turbines) run on a maximum load of 242.25 megawatts each reaching a total of 969 megawatts.
Interestingly, the NJHEP project is first of its kind. The composite dam (concrete gravity plus rock fill) is constructed on the Neelum River at Nauseri 41km northeast of Muzaffarabad. The dam diverts 280 cubic meters per second (Cumecs) of water into the headrace tunnel. The total length of the headrace tunnel is 48.5km, while it crosses the Jhelum River approximately 200 meters below its bed level.
Furthermore, the project has an underground – first in Pakistan, powerhouse at Chattar Kalas, 22km south of Muzaffarabad, where four vertical shaft Francis Turbines have been installed. The diverted water of the river enters the headrace tunnel and passes through the turbines and finally drops into the river through a huge tailrace tunnel of about 3.5km.
According to INP-WealthPK research, as many as 280 Cumecs water is required to run all four units of the project, which is currently available during the high-flow season. Such flows normally last from March to August every year.
According to Wapda, since its commissioning in April 2018, the project has so far injected over 14.58 billion units (kWh) into the national grid, which is equal to Rs132.53 billion. Currently, the project is providing over 35 million units per day.
INP
