Balakot Hydropower Project Achieves Major Milestone with Successful River Diversion
CT Report
ISLAMABAD: The Balakot Hydropower Project (BHPP) in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has achieved a major milestone with the successful river diversion and closure of its dam, marking the start of the main dam construction phase.
The project, undertaken by China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC), a core member of China Energy Engineering Group, is being developed on the Kunhar River about 220 kilometers north of Islamabad. It is the largest hydropower project planned and under construction by the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO).
The 49-meter-high concrete gravity dam will feature an underground powerhouse connected by a 9.1-kilometer headrace tunnel. Once completed, the facility will have a total installed capacity of 300 megawatts (MW), generated by three 100-MW Francis turbine units. The project is expected to produce 1.144 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, meeting the power needs of approximately 1.8 million people.
According to CGGC, the successful river diversion marks a smooth transition from the river diversion stage to the dry-pit foundation construction phase, ensuring safe and efficient progress for the next stage of dam building. The diversion process used a single-side blocking method, with upstream and downstream cofferdams built from both riverbanks. Hydraulic calculations guided the placement of materials to reduce loss and maintain embankment stability.
Mao Huigang, CGGC’s representative in Pakistan, said the project demonstrates the deepening cooperation between China and Pakistan under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“The Balakot Hydropower Project stands as a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship,” Mao said. “It has created more than 2,000 local jobs and stimulated growth in industries such as power, construction materials, and services.”
Mao added that CGGC remains committed to ensuring the project’s timely, high-quality completion and to expanding collaboration with Pakistan in energy, power, and water resource development.
Habibullah Shah, CEO of PEDO and project director, praised the contribution of CGGC.
“China has always been a reliable and time-tested friend of Pakistan,” Shah said. “Their role in this project reflects a partnership built on sustained cooperation and mutual trust.”
This marks CGGC’s second successful river diversion on the Kunhar River. Upstream, the company built the SK Hydropower Station, which has been in commercial operation for a year and has delivered 2.8 billion kWh of clean energy to Pakistan.
Over the past two decades, CGGC has played a major role in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, contributing to projects including the Neelum-Jhelum, Mohmand, Karot, and Dasu hydropower stations, as well as the E35 Highway and M4 Motorway.
Officials said the Balakot project’s progress represents another step forward in strengthening China-Pakistan cooperation and supporting Pakistan’s clean energy transition.
