Dasu Hydropower Project (DHP), .... 4,320 MW

KP cabinet approves SOP changes to allow transmission lines for clean energy projects​


Dasu–Mansehra–Islamabad 765kV line to pass through forest areas; NOC tied to environmental safeguards, tree compensation and corridor limits



The decision was taken in the context of the federal government’s 765kV Dasu–Mansehra–Islamabad Transmission Line Project, being executed by the National Grid Company, for which a no objection certificate (NOC) has been sought to proceed with construction.

Officials informed the cabinet that the proposed route, including access roads, passes through forest areas in Upper and Lower Kohistan, Hazara Tribal, Siran, Agror Tanawal, Gallies, Haripur and Alpuri divisions, along with some private land. Authorities said alternate routes were not technically viable due to terrain constraints.

The government stated that compensation for land and trees in private areas would be processed through relevant deputy commissioners.

Under existing laws, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Ordinance, 2002, activities such as tree removal and road construction are permitted under specific conditions. However, current SOPs did not explicitly cover high-voltage transmission infrastructure, prompting the need for amendments.


The cabinet noted that earlier decisions in 2022 had already recognised the need to facilitate nationally important clean energy projects with environmental safeguards, and approved the inclusion of transmission lines within the SOP framework.

As part of the revised framework, the provincial government will communicate conditions to the federal authorities before final clearance, including optimisation of corridor width to limit tree cutting, reduction of tower base dimensions, and joint surveys to reassess alignment and tree impact.

Authorities will also require submission of final tree counts, valuation, and compensation plans, along with measures for environmental mitigation, afforestation and carbon offset.
 
Work is underway on a total of 23 workfronts of the Dasu Hydropower Project under construction on the Indus River.

The project with a production capacity of 4 thousand 320 MW will be completed in two phases, WAPDA is currently constructing the first phase of the project.

4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project:
Construction continues on 23 work fronts; Completion of the Project planned in two Stages;
Currently, WAPDA implementing Stage-I of the Project.

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Milestone Achieved at DASU Hydropower Project! 🇵🇰⚡

No. 2 Sand & Gravel Batching System of CGGC DASU Hydropower Project has officially passed trial operation acceptance!**

The system will mainly supply Roller-Compacted Concrete (RCC) and conventional concrete for the MW-01 dam works, with an impressive total supply capacity of:

🔹 4.32 million m³ of RCC
🔹 0.959 million m³ of conventional concrete
🔹 Peak monthly RCC placement reaching 211,500 m³

Equipped with:

✅ 3 sets of HL320-2S4500L batching plants
✅ Advanced concrete pre-cooling system
✅ Designed production capacity of 960 m³/h

This achievement lays a solid foundation for the smooth construction of the RCC dam project and marks another important step in advancing Pakistan’s energy infrastructure development.

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Time to update title, Dasu will now be 5400 MW dam. damn

WAPDA informs Senate body: DHPP to become largest hydropower project


ISLAMABAD: The total revised cost of the 5,400MW Dasu Hydropower Project (DHPP) has been estimated at Rs1,737 billion, and upon completion, it will become the country’s largest hydropower project in terms of power generation capacity.

This was informed by the WAPDA officials while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, which met here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Senator Saifullah Abro.

The meeting discussed matters related to the DHPP and Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, including their associated transmission lines, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, and alleged financial irregularities in several development initiatives, including the Sindh Solar Energy Project (SSEP), where concerns were raised regarding the payment of approximately Rs6 billion in taxes allegedly deducted based on fake invoices.

WAPDA officials informed the panel that in the first phase, 12 generating units will be installed with a cumulative generation capacity of 4,320 megawatts at DHPP.

Subsequently, three additional units will be added, each producing 360 megawatts, increasing total generation to 5,400 megawatts. Officials further stated that work is underway on a 765-kilovolt transmission line associated with the project. WAPDA officials told the committee that the project has secured full funding, including external financing, and that overall physical progress has reached 30 percent. The completion date under the approved PC-1 remains November 2028.

Senator Waqar Mehdi, expressing concerns over repeated delays in the completion of the DHPP, observed that it appeared unlikely that the project would be completed within the stipulated timeframe. WAPDA officials acknowledged that the project had already faced two delays.

Senator Rubina Khalid criticised administrative inefficiencies and called for strict accountability mechanisms, urging authorities to establish timelines for performance and take disciplinary action against officials who fail to deliver. Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan stressed that future lapses should be reported to oversight institutions, while Senator Abro recommended the establishment of a dedicated monitoring desk within EAD to evaluate tendering processes, minimise the risk of irregularities, and ensure effective follow-up of projects executed in collaboration with donor agencies.

Senator Hidayatullah Khan noted that despite only 30 percent overall progress, approximately USD 46 million had already been paid in interest. Senator Abro noted that a loan of USD 485 million had been obtained for the project and that USD 46 million in interest payments had already been made.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
 

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