The 800MW Mohmand hydropower project is being constructed on the Swat River in the Mohmand district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The project involves the construction of a dam and an integrated powerhouse.
Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan is the implementing authority of the project. The Mohmand dam was proposed in the early-2000s, but work related to the project was started in 2017 upon completion of detailed engineering and design.
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The hydropower project was approved in March 2019 with an estimated investment of PKR309bn ($2.17bn). The groundbreaking ceremony of the project was held in May 2019, while commissioning is scheduled for July 2024.
The Mohmand dam is expected to become a solution to flooding issues in Peshawar, Charsadda, and Naushera regions in Pakistan, while irrigating 16,737 acres of land. Annual energy output of the power plant is expected to be 2,862GWh.
Mohmand hydropower project location
The Mohmand dam is being developed approximately 48km north of Peshawar at the intersection of Mohmand and Charsadda district.
WAPDA acquired 818.27 acres of land in the region for the construction of the dam in February 2019.
The site lies 5km upstream of Munda headworks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The reservoir areas of the dam will be spread across the Mohmand, Bajaur, and other districts.
Mohmand dam details
The Mohmand hydropower project will include a 213m-high concrete-faced rock-filled dam and two 3,317m-long low-level river diversion outlets with a diameter of 15m. The dam will feature seven radial gates with a width of 15m and height of 21m.
The reservoir will have a storage capacity of 1,594 million cubic metres (Mcm). It is expected to provide irrigation, drinking water facilities, and electricity generation. Peshawar city will receive 13.32Mcm of water upon completion of the project.
Mohmand dam will also irrigate 16,737 acres of cultivable area The left bank will cultivate 9,017 acres and the right bank will cultivate 7,720 acres.
Mohmand hydropower project make-up
The power plant’s spillways will be of ogee weir design with 539m crest level and with a capacity of 25,514 cubic metres per second (cumecs).
The head race tunnel will be 805m-long with a diameter of 13.2m, while the penstock will be 155m-long with a diameter ranging between 5m and 10m.
A 130m-long and 40m-wide surface power station forms part of the project. It will house four Francis-type vertical shaft turbines coupled to generators rated at 200MW each.
The power output of the plant is proposed to be transmitted to a 220kV switchyard located near the site.
Construction details
The Mohmand power project will mainly involve the construction of permanent access roads, WAPDA camps, main civil works, irrigation tunnels and canals, as well as electrical and mechanical works.
Main civil works include the construction of the dam, spillways, and diversion tunnels. Associated development works include building roads, project offices, accommodation, a community centre, schools, a mosque, and a shopping centre.
Financing
Water and irrigation-related construction is estimated to cost PKR114.28bn ($805m), which will be funded by the federal public sector development programme of Pakistan.
The remaining amount of PKR195.27 ($1.37bn) will be obtained from WAPDA’s equity and local and foreign bank investments.
Contractors involved
A joint venture of China Gezhouba group (CGGC) and Descon Engineering was awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction contract by WAPDA.
The contract includes the construction of access roads, irrigation facilities, dam and ancillary works, as well as design and installation of electromechanical equipment and hydraulic metal structures.
