Chinese firm abandons Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan

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Chinese engineers and staff have left the improvement of the Mega 969-Megawatt Neelum-Juhelum Power Plant in Kashmir occupied by Pakistan which was closed since the beginning of July this year after Pakistan faced a lack of continuous fuel and electricity.

The Chinese have given a reason for local protests to the factory and the failure of the Pakistani police to offer credible security, however, the reversal of the project that suddenly in China has created a big rift between Pakistan and China over projects -projects of joint hydroelectric power plants.

This factory is located near Muzaffarabad in Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and Chinese engineers work to unblock important tunnels.

The Hydroelectric Power Plant Project worth 508 billion RS experienced a sudden termination within three years after its operation, revealed a serious difference between Pakist and Chinese authorities over joint projects, especially Dasu and Mohmand electricity projects in addition to the Neelum-Jhelum, Islam, Islam Khabar reported.

The 3.5 km tunnel that diverts water from plants to the river develops serious mistakes and forces the total closure of the factory, when the country is confronted with a serious power crisis. The main cracks in the tailrace tunnel forced the authorities to close the project.

The Authority of Water and Power Development (WAPDA), which operates a hydroelectric station, then also confirms that “the tailrace tunnel of the project has been blocked and as a result, power plant ..

Pakistani authorities blame the Chinese over the slippage of projects and inefficient operations. The Chinese, on the other hand, have their own complaints about the delayed payments they quoted as the main cause of delays, Islam Khabar reported.

Hydroelectric power plants, settled with an estimated cost approved around RS508BN, became functional in August 2018 and had a capacity to produce around 1,500 MW of electricity. Project construction was taken in 2002 after 21 years of delay and completed in April 2018 – once again with overruns repeated costs and the deadlines that were missed, Dawn reported.