ISLAMABAD: The Power intake system of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project at dam site has been completed with the operationalisation of the third de-sander in order to meet water requirement for generating power from all units of the project. The de-sanders have been constructed with project’s dam to divert water from the reservoir to the waterway system comprising 52-kilometre long tunnel system to generate electricity at the powerhouse.
At present, three units of Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project have been generating power, therefore, impounding level in the reservoir has also been enhanced to meet the increased water demands of all units in operation.
It is worth mentioning that the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project has three main components – dam and de-sander, waterway system and powerhouse. The dam and three de-sanders have been constructed across river Neelum at Nauseri in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The concrete and rock-filled dam are 60 meters high and 261 meters long. Maximum water storage capacity of the reservoir is 10 million cubic meter, while the maximum operating level of the reservoir is 1015 meter above mean sea level. At present, the water level in the reservoir is 1006.5 meters above mean sea level as per the demand of powerhouse. As many as 70 cubic meters per second water outflow is required to generate power from each unit installed at the powerhouse.
