by Khalid Aziz

 

ISLAMABAD, April 15 (Gwadar Pro) - Chinese firms are ranked first in the hydropower sector in Pakistan due to their global competitiveness in quality and cost, and their valour to work in difficult terrains and tough situations, officials associated with the sector told Gwadar Pro.

 

Currently, all important hydropower projects in Pakistan are being executed by Chinese firms. Some of these projects are financed by China, but they have also won several big projects in open competition.

 

Chinese companies are dominating hydropower projects in Pakistan due to their vast experience in the sector, said Engineer Asif, Deputy Director of Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation (PEDO). The Chinese firms first built engineering marvels in hydropower sector at home and later forayed into the world including Pakistan with their expertise, he said.

 

Abdullah, executive engineer at the Gomal Zam dam, said that Chinese firms ensured quality at relatively lower costs. Gomal Zam dam was built by Sinohydro Group. Abdullah said that based on their performance in Gomal Zam project,  Sinohydro was also awarded contract for 4th extension of Tarbela, presently the largest dam in Pakistan.

 

Abdullah said that certain incentives offered to the Chinese companies also made their project bids economical and competitive as compared with other foreign firms.

 

China Gezhouba Group (CGG) is leading among other Chinese firms in terms of projects. In March, the KP government signed agreement with the CGG for construction of 300MWs Balakot HPP. In July 2020, it got contract for 700MWs Azad Pattan HPP in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. In March 2019, the firm was awarded contract for the 800MWs Mohmand dam. It is also executing the main works of the 4,300 MWs Dasu HPP in KP.

 

China Three Gorges (CTG) is another key player in Pakistan’s hydropower sector. In June 2020, it signed up for 1,100MWs Kohala HPP in Pakistani Kashmir. The largest Chinese hydropower firm is also executing the 720MWs Karot HPP, which is nearing completion, and 640 Mahl hydropower project.

 

Similarly, in May 2020, Pakistan signed a Rs. 442 billion worth of contract with Power China for the main works and a 21MWs powerhouse of Diamer-Bhasha dam, which is the biggest under-construction dam in Pakistan.

 

In response to a question by Gwadar Pro, Abid Rana, general manager with Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) said that all relevant rules were followed while awarding HPP contracts and that the Chinese firms won all projects in open bidding.

 

‘We first open technical bids to see which firms qualify for a specific project. The financial bids are opened later’, he said. The majority of projects go to Chinese firms because of their experience in the field and globally competitive financial bids, he said.