The 300-megawatt Balakot Hydropower Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has achieved a major milestone with the successful diversion and closure of the Kunhar River, marking the start of its main construction phase.
The project, a collaboration between the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) and China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC), is the largest hydropower initiative currently being developed by the provincial government. It is scheduled for completion by 2030 at a cost exceeding US$750 million.
Once operational, the project will generate 1.144 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply power to approximately 1.8 million people. The dam, standing 49 meters high, will feature an underground powerhouse housing three 100 MW Francis turbine generator units and a 9.1-kilometer headrace tunnel.
A ceremony marking the river diversion was held on October 25 at the project site, where CGGC representative Mao Huigang officially announced the closure of the river. “Balakot Hydropower Project stands as a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship,” he said, noting that the project has created over 2,000 local jobs and spurred activity in the power, materials, and services sectors.
PEDO CEO and Project Director Habibullah Shah said the project reflects strong cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, adding that it is being supervised by the provincial government with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
He said the project will generate Rs20 billion in annual revenue for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This is the second successful diversion of the Kunhar River by CGGC, which also built the upstream SK Hydropower Station that has been supplying 2.8 billion kWh of clean energy to Pakistan since last year. CGGC has been involved in several major infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including the Neelum-Jhelum, Mohmand, Karot, and Dasu hydropower stations, as well as the E35 Highway and M4 Motorway.
