The Karot Hydropower Station Project, constructed by SinoHydro Bureau 7 Co., Ltd., closed its diversion tunnel gates on November 20 to impound water.
The station is expected to generate electricity in the first half of 2022.
The 720-megawatt Karot hydropower station is an energy cooperation priority implementation project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the first large-scale hydropower project backed by the Belt and Road Initiative. It is also the first hydropower investment project included in the joint statement of the Chinese and Pakistani governments.
Pakistan's Karot Hydropower Station starts impounding water.
As a main construction partner SinoHydro Bureau 7 Co., Ltd. built the main project's water diversion and power generation system, civil works related to the diversion tunnel, and the electromechanical installation project.
Before the official closing of the gate, the company's project department took all the possible risks and dangers into full consideration and set up a project team to carefully inspect and debug the gate lifting equipment.
They also used Chinese professional instruments to conduct underwater detection on the sill of the diversion tunnel gate to ensure smooth closing of the diversion tunnel for water storage.
Since the start of construction, the company has maintained close communication with the clients, made scientific plans and stuck to high standards and strict requirements.
Overcoming many difficulties including complex geological conditions, purchasing of materials, harsh concrete transportation conditions in the rainy season, shortage of local labor, rising prices of building materials, and severe public safety and pandemic impact, the company did not have any quality and safety liability accident in the past six years.
The structural concrete grouting of the project's diversion tunnel, water intake tower, plant, and booster station have now been completed, the rotors of unit Nos 1, 2, and 3 of the station have been hoisted, and the tailrace cofferdam has been removed.
The concrete grouting construction of the diversion tunnel and the rotor hoisting of No 4 unit is in full swing.
When completed, the hydropower station will generate 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, meeting the power demands of five million people. It is expected to save burning of around 1.4 million tons of standard coal each year and reduce CO2 emissions by 3.5 million metric tons annually, thus effectively alleviating local power shortages and spuring Pakistan's economic growth.
