NJHP repair to take two more years
Neelum-Jhelum is a unique project as it is 90% underground and 10% above the ground and requires the building of an extensive tunnel system under a huge mountain. PHOTO: FILE
Restoration work at the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHPC) would take two more years to complete, Water Resources Minister Muhammad Moeen told the National Assembly on Friday, as a committee investigating the issues
was expected to finalise its report soon.
Speaking during the Question Hour, the minister said that the main contract for carrying out the repair work on the project - which was shut in May 2024 - had not yet been awarded in accordance with the government's instructions.
So far, Rs6.6 billion was spent to repair the project's Tail Race Tunnel (TRT). After the TRT was fixed, the plant resumed full operations in March 2024, generating 969 megawatts of electricity. However, the plant had to be shut down again two months later due to issues in Head Race Tunnel (HRT)," he said.
He said that the project is currently working under a provisional tariff on a 'take-and-pay' basis. There are no fixed payments or returns on investment. The company is managing its expenses through its own resources and pending payments from power sales to the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G)."
According to the National Power Control Centre (NPCC), the minister stated, the country has enough power generation to meet demand, and no load-shedding is being done due to shortages. He added that local electricity supply had not been affected by the shutdown.
The minister informed the house that the project's consultants had been told to review and improve maintenance procedures to avoid such issues in the future. He stressed the importance of operating and maintaining the plant as per equipment manufacturer's guidelines to prevent unexpected closures.
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