Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project Achieves Another Milestone With Tunnel Breakthrough

The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has reached another significant milestone at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project. WAPDA announced on Friday, 9 October 2026, the successful breakthrough of a connecting tunnel at the 1,530-megawatt project. The tunnel links the raised intake shaft with the existing Tunnel 5 of Tarbela Dam.

WAPDA said the achievement reflects the dedicated efforts, technical expertise and effective coordination of all stakeholders. The authority described it as an important step towards completing the project, which is aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s electricity generation capacity and increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy to meet the country’s growing power requirements.

What the breakthrough means

In tunnelling, a breakthrough is the moment when excavation from one side meets another, opening a continuous passage. Here, the connecting tunnel now joins the raised intake shaft with the existing tunnel. Water for the new power units will flow through this route, so the link is a critical piece of the project’s civil works.

POWERCHINA, the project’s civil works contractor, celebrated the achievement at the project site. POWERCHINA is responsible for the civil works, while Chinese companies Harbin Electric International and Harbin Electric Machinery are undertaking the electromechanical works through a joint venture.

Project at a glance

• Location: Tarbela Dam on the Indus River.
• Approach: The project converts the existing irrigation Tunnel 5 into a power tunnel and installs three generating units of 510 MW each, adding 1,530 MW of installed capacity.
• Capacity of the dam: Once completed, the extension will raise Tarbela Dam’s installed capacity from 4,888 MW to 6,418 MW.
• Expected output: Approximately 1.466 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, according to WAPDA.
• Financing: The World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and WAPDA are financing the project.

Background: how the project got here

The project was reported to cost $807 million, with the World Bank and AIIB contributing $390 million and $300 million respectively. Groundbreaking took place in August 2021, and the project is part of the government’s “Decade of Dams 2018–28” strategy to expand renewable energy and improve water management. Those financing figures come from an earlier report, so the current split among lenders and WAPDA should be checked against official WAPDA releases.

Earlier progress reports mark the path to this point. Excavation of the raised intake shaft was completed, and the draft tube was installed inside the powerhouse, with construction under way across seven major work fronts. The new breakthrough builds on that work.

A note on figures: an earlier report estimated annual generation at 1.347 billion kilowatt-hours, while WAPDA’s current figure is about 1.466 billion. This article uses the current figure.

Why it matters for Pakistan

Hydropower is among the cheapest and cleanest sources of electricity in Pakistan, and it can respond quickly to changes in demand. Adding 1,530 MW at an existing dam is attractive because it uses infrastructure already in place. The extension turns an irrigation tunnel into a power tunnel instead of requiring a new dam and reservoir. WAPDA says the project will strengthen the national power system and support the country’s long-term energy needs.

For households and industry, new low-cost renewable capacity could reduce reliance on imported fuel. How much it helps will depend on when the units begin operating and how the electricity is supplied through the grid.

What comes next

The announcement does not give a revised commissioning date or describe the remaining work. Remaining steps typically include completing the intake and tunnel works, installing and testing the three 510 MW generating units, and connecting them to the National Grid. Readers should watch for official updates from WAPDA on the timetable.

Conclusion

The connecting tunnel breakthrough is a visible step forward for the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project, linking the raised intake shaft with the existing Tunnel 5. It moves the 1,530 MW project closer to completion and shows coordination among WAPDA, its contractors and its financiers. Once finished, the extension is set to lift Tarbela’s capacity to 6,418 MW and add clean energy to Pakistan’s grid. The main questions now are the schedule for the remaining civil and electromechanical work and the date the first unit comes online.

Source: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) announcement; Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), 9 October 2026; The Nation, 11 October 2026; Daily Ittehad, 12 October 2026; International Water Power & Dam Construction.