(Above) The launch ceremony of the first renewable energy project constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The ceremony also featured speeches from the president of China Three Gorges International Corporation, representatives of the Pakistani government, lead contractor Yangtze Three Gorges Technology and Economy Development Co, and SMEC’s Chief Resident Engineer Allan Christer (third from left). (Below) The stakeholders presiding over the launch of Karot hydropower project.
The Karot hydropower project in Pakistan started operations on 29 June 2022. Karot Dam is the first renewable energy project constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The hydropower station is located on the Jhelum River in Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab. With an installed capacity of 720 megawatts, it is expected to provide 3.2 billion kilowatt hours of clean energy each year, supplying electricity to approximately 5 million people. Karot Hydro Power Company Limited will operate the plant for 30 years and transfer it to the Pakistan government.
The project has taken 40 years to materialise. It was first identified by various international agencies and consultants in 1983, followed by a 1994 study by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation. SMEC was later hired by a private developer in 2007 to undertake the feasibility of developing a capacity of 240MW. This study, completed in 2009, showed that a generation capacity of 720MW was feasible.
SMEC was engaged by the developer, China Three Gorges (CTG) during the bid phase of the project, which was tendered under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract. The team subsequently won an international competition to provide Design Review and Construction Supervision. SMEC International Pty Ltd partnered with Shanghai Investigation, Design, & Research Institute (SIDRI) to deliver the role of Employer’s Engineer for the project. Services included Project Management, Design Review, and Construction Supervision.
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