ISLAMABAD: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has formally approached the Power Division, seeking approval for the closure of Tunnel No. 1 (units 1 and 2) at the Mangla power house for 18 months to undergo refurbishment. The project aims to enhance the power house’s capacity by 310 MW, increasing it from 1,000 MW to 1,310 MW.
The refurbishment project, approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in December 2023, is expected to extend the plant’s operational life by 30 to 35 years. WAPDA has already completed work on units 5 and 6 and is currently refurbishing units 3 and 4, with completion expected by September 2024.
WAPDA is now preparing for the next phase involving units 1 and 2, with an updated schedule pushing the refurbishment start date to October 12, 2024. The project is set to provide an additional 1,610 million units of energy annually upon completion by 2026-27, with $98 million in support from USAID.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
